Namibian wrestlers training at Swakop

A GROUP of Namibian wrestlers is enjoying a refreshing training camp at Swakopmund.

“This is serious business, but the weather with the salty sea breeze of the Atlantic is a great place to be prepared for the year’s events,” Namibian wrestling head coach Luis Forcelledo Paz told The Namibian this morning as the group of 17 wrestlers aged 16 and above grappled one another on the beach.

Paz, who has been wrestling all his life and is a long-time coach in Namibia, was also the national champion for Cuba in his day.

The Africa Wrestling Championships for the cadet, junior and senior categories in Greco-Roman and freestyle wrestling takes place every year, with the best of the continent’s wrestlers competing.

The Namibian Wrestling Federation has been invited to this year’s event, which is scheduled to take place from 26 to 31 March at Hammamet in Tunisia.

The training camp at Swakopmund is for clubs from the country’s various regions.

“It is very important that Namibia maximizes on this opportunity to put our country on the continental map as it presents us with an opportunity to compete in the next African and Oceana Olympic qualifications for Japan 2020,” federation president Maggy Katimba told this newspaper. Paz said seven members of the training squad will be elected to represent Namibia at the Africa championship – two each for the cadet and junior categories and three seniors. They names of the chosen wrestlers will be announced next week.