MTC gives a million to cricket

THE Namibia Cricket Board (NCB) yesterday received N$1,1 million, its biggest sponsorship to date from Mobile Telecommunications Limited (MTC).

The company which has been involved with the Board for two years now, previously gave N$500 000 for cricket development and to enable Namibia to take part in the 2003 Cricket World Cup held in South Africa. MTC Managing Director Bengt Strenge said there was no doubt in his mind that cricket in the country was growing with one of the contributing factors being the involvement of the cellphone operator in the sport.”With this growth the sport is experiencing, we can be sure that selection for the national team will be more widespread in future, incorporating players from all walks of life,” he said.An amount of N$600 000 from the sponsorship will be used for the employment of a coach and will also cater for the contracting fees of national team players.475 000 will be used for the development of cricket across the country.Namibia currently employs Zimbabwean national Kevin Curren, as coach of the national team.NCB President Laurie Pieters said that at this stage, there were over 9 000 children from 110 schools in the north that were actively taking part in the sport.He said within the next eight to 10 years the NCB intends to introduce the sport to more schools at the development level.Strenge said MTC intends to invest a similar amount for 2006 and 2007 when the team ‘hopefully’ qualifies for the next Cricket World Cup.The next World Cup will he held in the West Indies in 2007, but Namibia needed to play in qualifying matches in 2006 before ensuring a place in the lucrative event.Basic Education Sport and Culture Minister John Mutorwa said at the event that the Government could not sustain sport in the country alone and needed the involvement of corporate sponsors.He said the Ministry, with its allocation from Government, mainly catered for infrastructure, development of talent and related programmes but could not do this alone.”The partnership between Government and the private sector in this regard is absolutely imperative and it will be vital for other companies to not only emulate the example of MTC, but to better it,” he said.Meanwhile, the national cricket team is expected play against Uganda in a one-off three-day match for the Intercontinental Cup at Wanderers, starting on Friday.The Ugandans will arrive in the country tomorrow.The Namibians will go into the competition with a full strength side, which includes some of the most experienced cricketeers in the country.The Namibians only played as a team last month when they took part in the International Cricket Council (ICC) Six Nations Challenge in Dubai.Team captain Deon Kotze yesterday told The Namibian Sport that although they didn’t know the Ugandans well, they were confident they could put up a good challenge against the visitors.The team mostly consist of players who played in last year’s World Cup, with the exception of Nicholas Scholtz.Top Namibian batsman, JB Burger, and bowler Burton van Rooi are the notable absentees from the squad.Burger is in England on a coaching job, while van Rooi suffers from a back-injury.The teams are as follows: Namibia: Deon Kotze; Danie Keulder; Stephan Swanepoel; Riaan Walters; Marius van der Merwe; Louis Burger; Melt van Schoor; Kola Burger; Bjorn Kotze; Kolla Burger; Gerrie Snyman; Sarel Burger and Nicholas Scholtz.Coach: Kevin Curren Uganda: Patrick Ochan; Junior Kwebiha; Benjamin Musoke; Robert Kisubi; Kenneth Kamyuka; Nand Naranpatel; Keith Legesi; Akber Mirza; Michael Ndiko; Frank Nsubuga; Richard Okia; Joel Olweny; Laurence Sematimba Tendo Lubwama and Kato Sebbaale.MTC Managing Director Bengt Strenge said there was no doubt in his mind that cricket in the country was growing with one of the contributing factors being the involvement of the cellphone operator in the sport.”With this growth the sport is experiencing, we can be sure that selection for the national team will be more widespread in future, incorporating players from all walks of life,” he said.An amount of N$600 000 from the sponsorship will be used for the employment of a coach and will also cater for the contracting fees of national team players.475 000 will be used for the development of cricket across the country.Namibia currently employs Zimbabwean national Kevin Curren, as coach of the national team.NCB President Laurie Pieters said that at this stage, there were over 9 000 children from 110 schools in the north that were actively taking part in the sport.He said within the next eight to 10 years the NCB intends to introduce the sport to more schools at the development level.Strenge said MTC intends to invest a similar amount for 2006 and 2007 when the team ‘hopefully’ qualifies for the next Cricket World Cup.The next World Cup will he held in the West Indies in 2007, but Namibia needed to play in qualifying matches in 2006 before ensuring a place in the lucrative event.Basic Education Sport and Culture Minister John Mutorwa said at the event that the Government could not sustain sport in the country alone and needed the involvement of corporate sponsors.He said the Ministry, with its allocation from Government, mainly catered for infrastructure, development of talent and related programmes but could not do this alone.”The partnership between Government and the private sector in this regard is absolutely imperative and it will be vital for other companies to not only emulate the example of MTC, but to better it,” he said.Meanwhile, the national cricket team is expected play against Uganda in a one-off three-day match for the Intercontinental Cup at Wanderers, starting on Friday.The Ugandans will arrive in the country tomorrow.The Namibians will go into the competition with a full strength side, which includes some of the most experienced cricketeers in the country.The Namibians only played as a team last month when they took part in the International Cricket Council (ICC) Six Nations Challenge in Dubai.Team captain Deon Kotze yesterday told The Namibian Sport that although they didn’t know the Ugandans well, they were confident they could put up a good challenge against the visitors.The team mostly consist of players who played in last year’s World Cup, with the exception of Nicholas Scholtz.Top Namibian batsman, JB Burger, and bowler Burton van Rooi are the notable absentees from the squad.Burger is in England on a coaching job, while van Rooi suffers from a back-injury.The teams are as follows: Namibia: Deon Kotze; Danie Keulder; Stephan Swanepoel; Riaan Walters; Marius van der Merwe; Louis Burger; Melt van Schoor; Kola Burger; Bjorn Kotze; Kolla Burger; Gerrie Snyman; Sarel Burger and Nicholas Scholtz.Coach: Kevin Curren Uganda: Patrick Ochan; Junior Kwebiha; Benjamin Musoke; Robert Kisubi; Kenneth Kamyuka; Nand Naranpatel; Keith Legesi; Akber Mirza; Michael Ndiko; Frank Nsubuga; Richard Okia; Joel Olweny; Laurence Sematimba Tendo Lubwama and Kato Sebbaale.