Sports academy to mould young students

Cricket
Otis Daniels
  • 5 Hours Ago
Cricket Namibia (CN) has unveiled its plans for a sports and leadership academy aimed at nurturing emerging sportsmen and women. A new chapter in Namibia's sports development is set to begin with the launch of the Namibia Sport and Leadership Centre (NSLC) at the FNB Namibia Cricket Ground. The official launch of the NSLC is scheduled for April 2025.

A phased roll-out process will commence on 15 January, focusing on adapting students to online learning platforms under dedicated supervision. The NSLC will be managed by Hawie Engels, a renowned leader in education and personal development, as well as a high-level sports personality who has represented Namibia at junior and senior levels in rugby and athletics.

This innovative multi-sport initiative aims to support the country’s most promising young athletes, empowering them to excel both in their sporting and academic pursuits. CN stated on Friday:

"The NSLC represents a unique opportunity for young athletes to combine academic achievement with elite sports training in a highly professional and balanced environment. With the goal of becoming a leading hub for talent development, the NSLC is dedicated to fostering Namibia's youth to reach their full potential on both national and international stages."

Capable Leadership

Engels served as the principal of Windhoek High School from 2011 to 2022. His career also encompasses commercial training, team building, mentorship programmes, and motivational speaking. CN highlighted that Engels’ extensive experience will help shape the NSLC's unique offerings and high-performance culture, with an emphasis on a balanced approach to athletic growth, academic achievement, and mental health.

"Under the guidance of Engels, the NSLC will offer Namibia's youth a transformative platform to unlock their full potential in both their sporting and academic journeys."

Through Engels’ input, the NSLC will also provide dedicated training on leadership and capacity building for the wider Namibian market across sports, education, commerce, and institutional sectors.

Core Principles

The NSLC will cater to students from Grades 8 to 12, following online education. A holistic approach will combine athlete development and academic rigour with intensive sports training and leadership development. The daily schedule will balance these elements, ensuring each athlete receives the well-rounded support they need to succeed.

Schedules will vary based on grade levels but will generally include sports-specific practice, structured academic sessions under supervision, gym sessions, and other sport-related services. Leadership development will also feature prominently, alongside participation in team activities at the schools and/or clubs of their choice.

Various online learning service providers can be selected for the CAPS, Cambridge, and IEB curricula. These typically include the CAPS curriculum through Teneo School (teneoschool.co.za), the Cambridge curriculum through Cambrilearn (cambrilearn.com), and the IEB curriculum through Brainline (brainline.com).

Interested parents can contact info@nslc.com.na for more information. A detailed information session is planned for the end of January 2025.

– Cricket Namibia