Africa-Press – Namibia. THE International Netball Federation’s regional development manager for Africa, Joan Smit, denied allegations that she is interfering in the internal affairs of Netball Namibia.
In a recent interview with Desert Radio 95,3, Smit said people can decide what to term interference and what not to call assistance.
“My relationship and how I am communicating with Netball Namibia is exactly the same way that I communicate with all the other countries,” Smit said.
“You must remember that I am the liaison in Africa. So, the message I send to any other country in Africa is the same [one I send] to Netball Namibia,” stressed Smit.
Smit added that she could do much for netball in Namibia if she were accorded the opportunity, given her position in African netball.
“I am most willing to do that. To be honest with you, when the interference issue came up, this is where I really stepped back because the minister asked me several times why I achieve in other countries what I achieve but in my own country I am not.
“Why do you [help] players of Malawi, Uganda and other players in the netball super leagues in the outside world but you can’t do it for your own country?”
Responding to the minister’s queries, Smit said in her country (Namibia) it is called interference.
She said when she took over the regional netball development manager role, she started with Uganda in 2013. By then, Ugandans were laughed at because the girls could not play proper netball, today Uganda is ranked sixth in the world.
“Because they (Uganda) never called my assistance to them interference,” she added.
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