Namibia to get excellence centre

WINDHOEK – The Directorate of Sport is planning to erect a Centre of Sports Excellence in the capital.

The Centre of Sports Excellence will be a training facility for all outstanding Namibian young sportsmen and women to get expert coaching, professional nutrition and medical care under one roof. Director of Sports Vetumbuavi Veii told Nampa said the idea has been mooted for a very long time to build a multi-purpose sports centre, for pupils who have been identified as promising stars.Children will be able to train and be physically monitored while participating in the normal school curriculum.Facilities for most sports codes have been included in the plan, which also provides for a hostel for boys and girls, a cafeteria, a weight room, an indoor stadium and an administration block.A plot of land adjacent to the Independence stadium in the capital has been earmarked for the centre.It is close to many sports facilities such as the swimming pool and tennis courts.Veii said the sports centre has been modelled on a similar programme in Cuba.In Cuba, talent identification takes place in schools.Children are usually admitted to these schools at the age of 12, but swimmers and gymnasts may be admitted at eight or nine to allow for development at a younger age.The schools are primarily concerned with producing a sports elite that will form the basis of Cuba’s national teams.All pupils attending sports schools must maintain their athletic performances, maintain a high academic level and show a high degree of political commitment.After a number of years, pupils showing the greatest potential graduate to one of Cuba’s High Schools of Athletic Perfection.However, Veii said the problem in Namibia is the lack of resources to push the plan through.About three years ago building such a centre would cost about N$78 million and with inflation the cost should have surely risen by now, he said.Veii said sport is only allocated N$5 million a year from the National Budget.That money is used to maintain all sports codes in the country, which means there is in fact no money in Government coffers to start such a centre, he said.Veii added that he is aware of a number of private companies that are interested in coming on board.”We just need to sit down with the private sector and discuss how both parties can benefit from such a project,” he said.NampaDirector of Sports Vetumbuavi Veii told Nampa said the idea has been mooted for a very long time to build a multi-purpose sports centre, for pupils who have been identified as promising stars.Children will be able to train and be physically monitored while participating in the normal school curriculum.Facilities for most sports codes have been included in the plan, which also provides for a hostel for boys and girls, a cafeteria, a weight room, an indoor stadium and an administration block.A plot of land adjacent to the Independence stadium in the capital has been earmarked for the centre.It is close to many sports facilities such as the swimming pool and tennis courts.Veii said the sports centre has been modelled on a similar programme in Cuba.In Cuba, talent identification takes place in schools.Children are usually admitted to these schools at the age of 12, but swimmers and gymnasts may be admitted at eight or nine to allow for development at a younger age.The schools are primarily concerned with producing a sports elite that will form the basis of Cuba’s national teams.All pupils attending sports schools must maintain their athletic performances, maintain a high academic level and show a high degree of political commitment.After a number of years, pupils showing the greatest potential graduate to one of Cuba’s High Schools of Athletic Perfection.However, Veii said the problem in Namibia is the lack of resources to push the plan through.About three years ago building such a centre would cost about N$78 million and with inflation the cost should have surely risen by now, he said.Veii said sport is only allocated N$5 million a year from the National Budget.That money is used to maintain all sports codes in the country, which means there is in fact no money in Government coffers to start such a centre, he said.Veii added that he is aware of a number of private companies that are interested in coming on board.”We just need to sit down with the private sector and discuss how both parties can benefit from such a project,” he said.Nampa