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Is Namibia doing enough to support school sport and young athletes?

• 23 Hours Ago

For more than three decades, school sport has shaped some of the country's finest athletes and leaders.

Yet behind the medals and trophies lies an important question: are we doing enough to provide every young Namibian with the opportunity to participate, compete and fulfil their potential?

As Namibia implements the Integrated Physical Education and School Sports Policy (IPESS) 2023-2030, it is timely to reflect on the role of the Namibia Schools Sport Union (NSSU), its achievements, challenges and future opportunities.

Following Independence in 1990, the government inherited fragmented educational and sporting systems and moved to establish a unified school sport structure.

The NSSU emerged as the national body responsible for coordinating school sport across all fourteen regions, organising competitions in athletics, football, rugby, netball, volleyball, swimming and other sporting codes.

The NSSU’s greatest achievement has been the successful integration of school sport. Through its programmes, learners from diverse backgrounds have been brought together under a common national framework.

National and regional competitions have provided thousands of learners with opportunities to participate while developing leadership, discipline, teamwork and resilience.

The NSSU has also served as the country's primary talent identification platform. Many athletes who later represented Namibia internationally first showcased their abilities through NSSU competitions.

Regional structures have ensured that opportunities extend beyond urban centres, allowing learners from rural communities to participate meaningfully in school sport.

Funding a major concern

Despite these achievements, the NSSU has faced significant challenges. The governance crisis of 2004 exposed weaknesses in governance, accountability and administration, highlighting the importance of strong institutional systems.

Funding remains a major concern. The NSSU relies heavily on government support and sponsorships, limiting its ability to expand programmes, improve facilities, develop coaches and participate fully in international competitions.

Financial constraints are particularly evident during national championships. Regions are generally limited to approximately 50 athletes because transport allocations must accommodate athletes, teachers, coaches, managers and officials.

While necessary from a financial perspective, these restrictions reduce opportunities for talented learners to compete nationally.

The same challenges affect the country’s participation beyond its borders.

Although Namibia remains a member of the International School Sport Federation (ISF) and the Federation of African School Sport (FASS), financial limitations often prevent qualifying athletes from participating in international events.

One of the most debated developments in Namibian school sport was the country’s withdrawal from the Confederation of Southern Africa School Sports Associations (COSASSA).

A planned championship in Potchefstroom, South Africa, became a defining moment when concerns emerged regarding the legitimacy of the organising structure.

The government instructed the NSSU to withdraw pending investigation, and the event never materialised. The incident resulted in financial losses and became a key reason for Namibia’s withdrawal from COSASSA.

The withdrawal, however, came at a cost. Namibian learners lost valuable opportunities for regional competition and exposure. Encouragingly, relations have improved considerably.

In 2025, the NSSU Troika attended the COSASSA championships in Eswatini as observers, and discussions regarding the country’s return are now at an advanced stage.

Sponsorships

Corporate sponsorship has played a vital role in sustaining school sport. Few organisations have contributed as significantly, such as Coca-Cola Namibia.

For more than three decades, the company has supported athletics, football, rugby and netball competitions, helping sustain school sport programmes and national championships.

Another major contribution came from Debmarine Namibia through the Bridging the Gap School Sports Programme.

Launched in 2018 in the Oshana Region, the initiative aimed to reduce inequalities between urban and rural learners while strengthening participation in athletics, football and netball.

The programme was not staged between 2019 and 2021 due to Covid-19 restrictions, resumed in Erongo in 2022, and concluded in the Khomas Region in 2023.

For many learners, Bridging the Gap provided a first opportunity to compete nationally against athletes from other regions. Its success demonstrated the value of strategic partnerships between the private sector and school sport structures.

The Capricorn Group, through Bank Windhoek, continues to sponsor the Netball Super League, while Momentum Metropolitan Namibia has made a significant contribution to school rugby development.

While corporate support is appreciated, some sponsors appear to direct substantial resources towards private-school competitions while NSSU events often struggle to attract similar support.

NSSU competitions bring together learners from both public and private schools and therefore serve a uniquely inclusive national purpose.

Limited visibility

Another concern is the limited visibility of senior government officials at NSSU events. Greater involvement by national leaders would reinforce the importance of school sport within the country’s development agenda.

The IPESS 2023-2030 provides Namibia with a unique opportunity to strengthen school sport.

Success will depend on strong governance, professional administration, sustainable funding and collaboration among government, schools, communities and the private sector.

The NSSU has laid a strong foundation over the past three decades. The talent exists. The commitment of teachers and volunteers remains strong, and opportunities continue to exist through COSASSA, FASS and ISF.

The challenge is ensuring that support structures keep pace with the ambitions of Namibia’s young people.

If the history of school sport in Namibia teaches us anything, it is that the greatest challenges are often not found on the track, field, or court, but in the boardrooms where decisions are made. Perhaps that is where the next conversation should begin.

– Teofilus Nuugulu is an educator and sports administrator. The views expressed are his own.