Namibia takes part in World Beach Games

JUSTISIA SHIPENA
Four basketball players are representing Namibia for the first time at the ANOC World Beach Games in Doha, Qatar.

The national 3x3 basketball team left for Qatar last Wednesday. The games were officially opened by the Emir of Qatar, Sheik Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, on Saturday.

A team was selected by the Namibian Basketball Federation (NBF), who helped the boys with their preparations.

NBF secretary-general Ramah Mumba, development officer Malakia Matias and treasurer Sylvia Sawahenga accompanied the team to Doha.

One of the players, Firmino Bonaventure Mael, said he was more than excited to be part of such a historic event.

“My team and I have received such great support from our chaperones and the Olympic Committee, as well as our families and community,” he said.

Tireemukuru Toromba said: “Being part of Team Namibia at such a worldwide platform is a huge honour and the team feels the same duty as myself, to properly represent the country on and off the court.”

Speaking on behalf of the delegation, Sawahenga said: “As chaperones we understand that our responsibility to be respectable representatives is just as important as that of the players. We wish to learn a thing or two attending these games so as to implement it upon our return into our own basketball and sporting culture.”

The Namibian National Olympic Committee (NNOC) provided the team with all the necessary equipment.

The games, which started on Sunday, will run for a week. An estimated 1 240 athletes from over 100 countries are participating in 14 sports disciplines.

The Namibian basketball team is on of 16 boys’ teams that will be fighting it out until Wednesday.

The sport of 3x3 basketball is considered the number one urban team sport in the world and has created a buzz within the basketball community of Namibia.

Statistically the country has performed better at 3x3 competitions than in 5-on-5 basketball.

The Basketball Federation is working towards granting more opportunities such as these to its players.

Competitions such as the Bach Games in Cape Verde earlier this year and the Under-18 Young Lions Cup are examples of how hard the federation is pushing towards making Namibia an Olympic nation in the discipline of basketball.

The ANOC World Beach Games Qatar 2019, in collaboration with Bornan Sports Technology, has launched an official Games app, AWBG 2019, designed to enhance fan experience and keep them up to date with the latest scores from the inaugural event.