Fredericks Foundation announces scholarships for promising athletes

The Frank Fredericks Foundation (FFF) yesterday announced scholarships worth N$235 000 for five talented young Namibian athletes.Paralympic double silver medallist Johannes Nambala received N$150 000, which is divided into N$50 000 a year for the next three years as preparation money for the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo, Japan.This is the first time the FFF is supporting a Paralympic athlete.Golfer Gabriel Shikodi (N$25 000), sprinter Sadé de Sousa (N$20 000), sprinter Ivan Danny Geldenhuys (N$20 000) and long and high jumper Natalie Louw (N$20 000) also received scholarships.De Sousa (Windhoek Gymnasium), Geldenhuys and Louw (Windhoek High School) are first-time recipients, while Shikodi has been with the foundation for three years.Speaking during the announcement, Amos Shiyuka, a board member of the foundation, said the scholarships focus on school needs first and sports second. “Sports is a short-term career. One needs education to fall back on when your sporting days are over. There is no point in excelling in sport while your education is lagging behind,” Shiyuka told the recipients.Three students from the Babylon and One Nation informal settlements were also given scholarships of N$5 000 each, following their participation in “Athletics for a Better World Project”. This project has been ongoing under the FFF, Wartsila and the Finnish non-governmental organisation Crisis Management Initiative for youth aged between 13 and 20. It conducts HIV/Aids education through sports.Shiyuka called on Government and corporate organisation to help upcoming athletes realise their dreams by supporting them in cash or kind.On accepting the scholarship, Nambala said Fredericks offered to help him soon after he finished competing at the Paralympic Games in Brazil last year. “This makes me happy and thankful for the support. I will keep training and produce good results for my country,” said Nambala, who has also won Paralympic world championship gold.Shikodi encouraged the new recipients, saying they must work hard and manage their time to avoid lagging behind at school or in their respective sports.The Bachelor of Engineering and Metallurgical student said people always ask him how he manages to play golf and study. “I always say I avoid time vampires and focus on my goals, which are education and golf,” said Shikodi. The FFF was launched in April 1999 by decorated Namibian athlete Frank Fredericks as a way of giving back to the country, following his successful international career.The foundation gives scholarships to promising Namibian athletes. –Nampa

Fredericks Foundation announces scholarships for promising athletes

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