Africa-Press – Namibia. THE Zambezi region’s historic victory in the Namibian Newspaper Cup over the weekend, has led to a paradigm shift in Namibian football, according to the chief administrator of the Namibia Sport Commission, Fred Mwiya.
THE Zambezi region’s historic victory in the Namibian Newspaper Cup over the weekend, has led to a paradigm shift in Namibian football, according to the chief administrator of the Namibia Sport Commission, Fred Mwiya.
Speaking after their famous victory in Oshakati on Sunday, Mwiya said that their performances throughout the tournament showed that there are no weak teams anymore and that any team can win the prestigious tournament.
“What was unique about this tournament was the paradigm shift with regard to teams that were previously seen as weak teams, that were ranked 13th or 14th out of all the regions, but Zambezi’s victory now shows that there is growth and it shows that these teams were also well-prepared,” he said.
“It shows that there has been a paradigm shift in the sense that any team can now win this tournament, and I think it also shows the selectors that we have got talent across the entire country,” he added.
Mwiya who comes from the Zambezi region himself said he was proud of their achievement while he could now also ‘walk the talk.’
“It’s very impressive, I must be honest, but I come from Zambezi so I know the talent they have there. I think they did their homework very well because previously they were only selecting members from the town but I was talking to the coaches over the past three days and I was told they are now going to the constituencies so that they can give opportunities to everyone in the region.
“It’s something very positive and at least I can now walk the talk, because when I talk about sport I must also be able to say I lead by example from the home that I come from. Now that my region is performing, when I talk to the entire nation, they will be able to understand what I am talking about. It’s a big achievement for the region and at the same time also it’s a plus for me as a person coming from that region,” he said.
Mwiya said Zambezi’s triumph will also have a positive impact on the region, starting off with a big welcoming home ceremony.
“It will have a big impact on the youth of the region, because it will transform a lot of lives, especially amongst those who previously did not take sport seriously. Then I was told by the governor that there will be a big welcoming home ceremony, starting the people will be waiting for these athletes from about 100km before the town, when they will be escorted through the villages to Katima Mulilo. So you can see the impact it will make because every child will be waiting and watching them, to get a glimpse of their heroes,” he said.
“But it’s also about the impact it will have on the society and especially the youth of the region. Those who drink alcohol or partake in other social evils, it will also change their mentality to say let’s change ourselves, because Zambezi can now also produce heroes and heroines,” he added.
Mwiya said that the Namibian Newspaper Cup, now in its 20th year, had become one of the most important sporting tournaments in the country.
“This is one of our biggest tournaments without a doubt and I can assure you that it has become a famous tournament. You can see the impact it makes on people’s lives in the towns – look at the economic boost it brought to Oshakati, and to every town, and also the legacy that it leaves, the networking that happens amongst sports people, and the cohesion that it brings between the people of Namibia,” he said.
“For me it’s the right thing to do and that’s why we see from government, from the Namibia Sport Commission, when we were told that we must become partners, we said without a doubt we have to become partners, because this is the only way we can bring people together,” he added.
Speaking after their famous victory in Oshakati on Sunday, Mwiya said that their performances throughout the tournament showed that there are no weak teams anymore and that any team can win the prestigious tournament.
“What was unique about this tournament was the paradigm shift with regard to teams that were previously seen as weak teams, that were ranked 13th or 14th out of all the regions, but Zambezi’s victory now shows that there is growth and it shows that these teams were also well-prepared,” he said.
“It shows that there has been a paradigm shift in the sense that any team can now win this tournament, and I think it also shows the selectors that we have got talent across the entire country,” he added.
Mwiya who comes from the Zambezi region himself said he was proud of their achievement while he could now also ‘walk the talk.’
“It’s very impressive, I must be honest, but I come from Zambezi so I know the talent they have there. I think they did their homework very well because previously they were only selecting members from the town but I was talking to the coaches over the past three days and I was told they are now going to the constituencies so that they can give opportunities to everyone in the region.
“It’s something very positive and at least I can now walk the talk, because when I talk about sport I must also be able to say I lead by example from the home that I come from. Now that my region is performing, when I talk to the entire nation, they will be able to understand what I am talking about. It’s a big achievement for the region and at the same time also it’s a plus for me as a person coming from that region,” he said.
Mwiya said Zambezi’s triumph will also have a positive impact on the region, starting off with a big welcoming home ceremony.
“It will have a big impact on the youth of the region, because it will transform a lot of lives, especially amongst those who previously did not take sport seriously. Then I was told by the governor that there will be a big welcoming home ceremony, starting the people will be waiting for these athletes from about 100km before the town, when they will be escorted through the villages to Katima Mulilo. So you can see the impact it will make because every child will be waiting and watching them, to get a glimpse of their heroes,” he said.
“But it’s also about the impact it will have on the society and especially the youth of the region. Those who drink alcohol or partake in other social evils, it will also change their mentality to say let’s change ourselves, because Zambezi can now also produce heroes and heroines,” he added.
Mwiya said that the Namibian Newspaper Cup, now in its 20th year, had become one of the most important sporting tournaments in the country.
“This is one of our biggest tournaments without a doubt and I can assure you that it has become a famous tournament. You can see the impact it makes on people’s lives in the towns – look at the economic boost it brought to Oshakati, and to every town, and also the legacy that it leaves, the networking that happens amongst sports people, and the cohesion that it brings between the people of Namibia,” he said.
“For me it’s the right thing to do and that’s why we see from government, from the Namibia Sport Commission, when we were told that we must become partners, we said without a doubt we have to become partners, because this is the only way we can bring people together,” he added.
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