Unified Gladiators to receive N$250k reward

Football
The reward forms part of the Namibia Sports Commission’s reward policy.
Mariud Ngula
  • 5 Hours Ago

Special Olympics Namibia’s women’s football team, the Unified Gladiators, will receive N$250 000 from the Namibia Sports Commission (NSC) after winning gold at the Unified Football World Cup in Paris, France.

NSC chief administrator Dr Freddy Mwiya confirmed the reward during the team’s hero’s welcome by Vice President Lucia Witbooi at the Old State House in Windhoek on Monday.

Mwiya said the money forms part of the NSC reward policy, with N$150 000 allocated to the athletes and N$100 000 to the team management.

“This money is non-negotiable. Even if we do not have it at the moment, we must find a way to get it to these athletes and management,” Mwiya said.

The reward, however, will not cover the N$650 000 Special Olympics Namibia (SON) was forced to use from its reserves after government funding for the trip did not materialise.

SON director Levien Smit confirmed to Sport Wrap that the organisation submitted its funding request for the Unified Football World Cup in mid-May and its broader annual programme requirements for the current financial year last August.

However, sports director Jo-Ann Manuel said the May submission was already late for consideration, as the budget process had already been completed by then.

“These are the unbudgeted things that we are saying we are not sponsoring. They submitted in May, but the budget was already done by then,” Manuel said.

“Now, this September, we are talking about next year’s budget. May is late. The budget is approved in Parliament in June. It is just a matter of planning. The year before, you should already send your things through,” she added.

The sports ministry had earlier issued a directive that, due to financial constraints, “unbudgeted events and repeated ad hoc requests” would no longer receive funding.


Second gold at Unified World Cup

The Unified Gladiators returned home as Women’s Division Two champions after beating Egypt 5-4 on penalties in the final, following a goalless draw in regulation time.

The triumph marked Namibia’s second gold medal at the Unified Football World Cup, after the team also won gold in Division Three at the 2022 edition in Detroit, United States.

Head coach Eliaser Amuthitu said the team went to Paris with a clear target after their previous World Cup appearance.

“This time around, we had a plan. We said we had to go all out and represent our country with honour and dignity,” he said.

Amuthitu said working with athletes with intellectual disabilities requires patience and understanding, especially in pressure situations.

“It is not an easy task. Sometimes you go to a competition and an athlete tells you they do not want to play, so you need to find a way to get them onto the field. We are not giving up on them,” he said.


‘Humanity is equal’

Special Olympics International Africa region director of youth and education Ngawa Mumba said the team’s reception by national leaders sent a strong message to athletes with intellectual disabilities.

“Your presence here today sends a powerful message to every athlete represented in this room, that they matter, that they belong and that Namibia is proud of them,” she said.

Mumba said Unified Sports, which brings athletes with and without intellectual disabilities together in the same team, continues to break barriers and change perceptions.

“When we step onto a football field, something extraordinary happens. Labels disappear, and barriers begin to break. Abilities may differ, but our humanity is equal,” she said.


Role models

Deputy sports minister Dino Ballotti urged the players not to take the opportunity for granted, saying many Namibians would like to be in their position.

“Many Namibians wish they had the platform that you have today, so I do not want you to take that for granted,” Ballotti said.

He said the team had become role models and ambassadors for inclusion.

“Your gold medal was not for you alone. It was and is for every young person who believes,” he said.

Vice President Witbooi congratulated the team on behalf of President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, the government and the people of Namibia.

“Today we celebrate more than a gold medal. We celebrate courage, determination, resilience and the triumph of these incredible daughters of the Namibian soil,” Witbooi said.

She also encouraged the athletes to use their reward money wisely.

“When I go to your house, my children, let me see a cup or bed that you have bought with this money. Do not go and squander it,” she cautioned.

– mariud@nsh.com.na