• Youth

Keetmanshoop ready for Napso athletics

The Namibian Private Schools Organisation (Napso) Standard Bank/Coke athletics event is scheduled to take place this coming weekend and will see 16 private schools taking part in the well-known event.

"What an absolute pleasure it is to visit the beautiful south and the beautiful southern people for such a prestigious event on the Napso calendar," said Wouter Niehaus, Napso's CEO.

He added that friendships are pivotal to the event and should be treasured by all participants. "We are raising the next generation of Napso parents who will be a part of the Napso family," he said.

"May we experience the power of sport to unite people as the Napso community," said Drienie Nolte, the principal of Keetmanshoop Private School (KPS), which is hosting this year's gathering.

From all corners of the country

More than a thousand learners from schools across the country have signed up for the event, according to Patrys Mostert, the KPS spokesperson.

"We are expecting a fun get-together," she said.

KPS is the first school to host the athletic weekend away from the coast since 2005.

Mostert said this means a lot to Keetmanshoop, and it entails a financial advantage for the town, as particpants stream to Keetmanshoop for a fun-filled weekend.

The organisation for the event began last year, after the announcement that KPS would host it.

More than 2 000 people are expected to attend the Napso weekend if every child brings at least one parent, Mostert said.

Growing stronger

Napso was established with the goal of driving growth among affiliated schools and learners.

According to Gonsies, a My Zone publication, the athletics weekend started in 2006 and was attended by six schools and 120 athletets.

The NAPSO main sponsors for this year's event are as follows: Spar, Build It, Securitas, Nictus, Coca Cola, Standard Bank, with Nammed joining in 2023. The NAPSO partners are: Namibia Media Holdings, My Zone, NWU, Netwerk, Kanaal 7, Cricket Namibia