Sports – Page 4 – Windhoek Observer

25 Jul

Govt accused of misrepresenting stadium progress in NDP6

Sports

Erasmus Shalihaxwe Senior sports administrators in the Ohangwena region have rejected claims in the newly launched Sixth National Development Plan (NDP6) that the Eenhana Sports Stadium is complete. They say the facility is far from finished. An administrator, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of victimisation, said he recently visited the site and found that only the pavilion appears complete. “I passed by the stadium a week ago. There is still a lot that needs to be done. I only saw people cleaning. The pavilion might be done, but everything else is far from complete,” he said. He…

24 Jul

NNOC appoints Parker as CEO

SportsAnri Parker

Erasmus Shaliahxwe The Namibia National Olympic Committee (NNOC) and Commonwealth Games Association has appointed Anri Parker as its new chief executive officer, effective 1 September 2025. NNOC president Ndeulipula Hamutumwa announced the appointment on Wednesday. He said Parker has experience in sports administration and has worked on organising sporting events, athlete development, and international partnerships. "As a respected figure in Namibian sports, Parker has a proven track record of fostering athlete development and promoting the Olympic and Commonwealth Games values," Hamutumwa said. He added that her background in organising high-profile sporting events has shown strong leadership in governance, community engagement,…

24 Jul

Nedbank Citi Dash returns with new routes

SportsNedbank Citi Dash

Erasmus Shalihaxwe The Nedbank Citi Dash is back for its fifth edition, with this year’s race set for 6 and 7 September 2025 at a new venue, the Vegkop Stadium at Windhoek High School. Speaking at the official launch on Wednesday at the Nedbank Campus in Windhoek, Nedbank Namibia chief commercial officer JG van Graan said the event has been upgraded to match international standards. “We continue to innovate and have upgraded the race to keep up with international running trends. These include the new venue at WHS Vegkop Stadium, revamped 5km and 10km routes through the heart of Windhoek,…

22 Jul

Local coaches can take us to the World Cup – NRU

Sports

Erasmus Shalihaxwe Namibia Rugby Union (NRU) president Petrie Theron says there is no need to appoint a foreign coach for the national team to qualify for the 2027 Rugby World Cup. Theron made the remarks on Tuesday during a press conference in Windhoek while giving updates on the Welwitschias’ World Cup qualifying campaign currently underway in Kampala, Uganda. Namibia failed to secure automatic qualification after a 28–30 loss to Zimbabwe in the Rugby Africa Cup last Saturday. This marked the first time since 1999 that Namibia has failed to qualify directly for the World Cup. This Saturday, the Welwitschias will…

22 Jul

Heita eyes Namibia’s fifth world boxing title

Sports

Erasmus Shalihaxwe Boxer Mateus Heita says he is ready to become the fifth Namibian boxer to win a world title. The 27-year-old is set to face American Bruce Carrington this Saturday at Madison Square Garden in New York for the WBC interim world featherweight title. Heita has an undefeated professional record of 14 wins, including nine knockouts. Speaking from the gym on Tuesday, Heita said he is not intimidated by his opponent. “I will be the number five world champion in Namibia. I am not a contender… Come Saturday night, I will be the champion; I will bring the title…

21 Jul

Annual sport awards return with expanded categories

Sports

Erasmus Shalihaxwe The Namibia Sport Commission (NSC) on Monday launched the 2025 edition of the Namibia Annual Sport Awards to honour athletes, coaches, administrators, and institutions across various sport codes. Speaking at the launch, chief administrator Freddy Mwiya said the victories of Namibian athletes have built a legacy rooted in national pride. He said the celebration of sport is supported by the Namibia Sport Act, which guides the promotion, development, and recognition of sporting talent in the country. “For 2025, we are pleased to announce that the nomination application system will open on Friday, 25 July 2025,” said Mwiya. He…

20 Jul

Welwitschias scrum for second chance at World Cup

Featured, SportsNamibia Rugby Union (NRU)

Erasmus Shalihaxwe The Welwitschias, the national rugby team, are determined to regroup and refocus following their loss to Zimbabwe in the Rugby Africa Cup final on Saturday. The tightly contested match ended 30–28 in favour of Zimbabwe in Kampala, Uganda. The win secured Zimbabwe a spot at the 2027 Rugby World Cup, marking their first qualification in 34 years. Namibia, which has featured in every Rugby World Cup since 1999, now risks missing out for the first time since 1996. However, the team still has a chance to qualify through the intercontinental repechage tournament. Following the loss, the Namibia Rugby…

17 Jul

Mountain bikers face off in high-stakes XCO battle

Sports

Erasmus Shalihaxwe The 2025 Nedbank Namibian Mountain Bike XCC, XCO, and Cross-Country Championships will take place this weekend at Towerbos Trails. The event, hosted by the Namibia Cycling Federation (NCF) and sponsored by Nedbank Namibia, will feature the Cross-Country Olympic (XCO) race on Saturday. On Sunday, cyclists will compete in the Cross-Country Short Track (XCC) and Electric Cross-Country (E-XC) events. Nedbank Namibia Communication Manager Selma Kaulinge said the event will showcase Namibia’s cycling talent, from seasoned professionals to future stars. She said the national championships form a key part of the cycling calendar and provide opportunities for local cyclists to…

17 Jul

Nedbank T20 challenge reaches final stage

Sports

Erasmus Shalihaxwe The 2025 Nedbank Desert Ice Challenge T20 League will conclude this weekend with the finals scheduled for Saturday and Sunday at the Namibia Cricket Ground in Windhoek. The league, organised by Impact Cricket Namibia, is supported by Nedbank Namibia through its Beyond Banking Division, which provided a N$150 000 sponsorship for the season. Twelve teams participated in the season including, the UNAM Zebras Legends, Gobabis Bulls, CCD Tigers, Cricket Generation Academy, Okahandja Cricket Club, Windhoek Afrikaans High School, UNAM Zebras Strikers, Cricket Club, Run Whisperers Academy, Over 40s Veterans, Green Mambas, and Tsumeb Old Boys Cricket Club. Nine…

16 Jul

Hot weather slows Namibian swimmers in Singapore

Featured, Sports

Erasmus Shalihaxwe The World Aquatics Championships in Singapore has postponed the event yesterday, after extreme heat pushed temperatures to 31 degrees Celsius The organisers said the event will proceed once the water temperature has dropped to acceptable levels under World Aquatics regulations. Namibia Aquatic Sports Federation president Riaan Steyn said the hot weather negatively affected Namibian swimmer Nico Esslinger, who finished 47th in the 10 km open water event with a time of 11 minutes and 57.90 seconds. “The race was postponed until water quality became better. During this morning’s testing there was a significant improvement in water quality and…