NSC urges sporting bodies to host awards

Namibia Sports Commission (NSC) spokesperson Givean Samulandela has called on the country’s sporting bodies to celebrate athletes in their respective fields by hosting annual award ceremonies.Samulandela, who also serves as project director of the Namibia Annual Sports Awards (Nasa), made the remarks at the awards’ first information-sharing session held recently in Windhoek.The sports awards are slated for 22 November and will be hosted by the Ongwediva Town Council.He said clubs, federations and regions need to motivate athletes to keep improving while also identifying talent for possible elevation to the national stage.“These separate awards will help encourage athletes and give them more accolades to work towards, not just the national awards, which select only a limited number of individuals,” he said.Three-submission increaseSamulandela added that winners at club level could progress to federation, regional and eventually national awards, where they may qualify for the Regional Annual Sports Awards (Rasa).“A commendable action was taken by Omaheke Region last year when they held regional awards to appreciate their pioneers, legends and athletes,” he said.Sports awards deputy project director Magic Nyambe noted that the commission has in the past considered creating a Region of the Year category, which would complement the new Wall of Fame category.“Regions showing interest and hosting their own awards would make this category possible. We have potential deep in the far corners of the country, where athletes also aspire to be on the stage.“I believe if clubs, federations and regions could host these awards, it would not only motivate athletes to perform well locally but also give them a platform to be recognised, which they may otherwise not have had,” she said.Nyambe added that the number of entries from federations has been increased from one to three submissions to boost competition.Eye-opening for parentsOn hosting the event in the northern part of the country, Samulandela said it is meant to change the perception of parents who downplay sports and to show them that sport is an investment.“Growing up, our parents used to give us ultimatums in an attempt to get us to stop participating in sports. They would tell us to choose between chores and sports, with the choice of sport meaning you would eat and sleep at the field because you were not helping at home,” he said.He urged parents to give their children a chance to participate, as this is how future stars are discovered and developed.By hosting the awards outside the capital, in areas where sport is often not prioritised, he said they hope to open the eyes of more parents to its value.‘Corporate investment, not responsibility’“This is also where we need corporates to step in and stop looking at sports as a corporate social responsibility, but rather as a corporate social investment.“We should not only celebrate talent once it has succeeded on the podium, [usually internationally]. We need to identify talent at grassroots level, nurture it, groom it and prepare it for the podium by ensuring that its skills are fully developed,” he said.He also revealed that the government has allocated N$3 million towards this year’s annual sports awards. The commission has also put out a call for sponsors.The call for entries to federations and sports journalists covers the period from 1 October last year to 30 September this year. Submissions close on 30 September and can be made at: https://nscportal.org/awards/– mariud@nsh.com.na

NSC urges sporting bodies to host awards

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