Navachab extends entries ahead of Saturday’s half-marathon

Road running
Mariud Ngula
  • 5 Hours Ago
Registration for the 11th edition of the Navachab Half Marathon, initially set to close yesterday at midnight, has been extended until midnight today. There will be no late registration.

The half-marathon event takes place this Saturday at Husab Field in Karibib, featuring the 21 km, 10 km and 5 km fun run.

Entrants can sign up for the race via https://www.easyreg.co.za/events/navachab-half-marathon-2025

The announcement was confirmed by race director and Erongo regional sports officer Bethold “BK” Karumendu at the event’s final press conference in Windhoek yesterday.

Karumendu beamed with pride at the 11-year milestone, celebrated alongside main sponsor QKR Namibia Navachab Gold Mine, reiterating his dream of professionalising the race within the next four years.

“I am over the moon and at a loss for words because my vision of getting the event recognised by World Athletics is headed in the right direction. I am especially happy with the number of new companies that came on board to sponsor the race,” he said.



Race’s new sponsors

Since its August launch, the race has attracted nine new sponsors: Vivo Energy, OK Food Supermarket Karibib, Rocco Mining, KODO Drilling, Namibia Medical Care (NMC), Komatsu Namibia, Rent a Drum, Praestantia (Chemical Equipment Solutions) and the Mine Workers Union.

These complement the existing ones: Nammed Medical Aid Fund, FNB Namibia Karibib, Agra Karibib, Engen Service Station Karibib, Karibib Town Council and Coca-Cola Namibia.

Sports ministry deputy director Irvine Ndjavera acknowledged the race’s eleven-year milestone and praised organisers for aligning it with the ministry’s mandate to help athletes earn from sports.

“This is one of the biggest annual events supported by the ministry. It provides a conducive environment for sports development, creating a platform for athletes and technical officials to excel and make a living from sports,” said Ndjavera.

“The prize money says it all. Its mass participation trait makes it a perfect platform for talent identification.”



‘Healthy minds and bodies’

Also speaking at the launch, Navachab Gold Mine representative Tuafi Shafombabi expressed their delight in continuing as the race’s main sponsor in keeping with their corporate social responsibility.

“We understand healthy minds and bodies in the workforce and the country’s athletes. What’s new for this year’s edition is a mine tour on Friday for the first thirty participants in Karibib who would like to visit the mine,” she said.

“It is not always just about the race – we also want to show the public who we are and what it is that we do and stand for.”

Karibib deputy mayor Petrus Ntoni assured that the town is ready to host the race in terms of accommodation to cater to all athletes nationwide.

“Come Saturday, everything will run smoothly. We will be holding a cleaning campaign on Friday to ensure the town is clean for the event,” he said.

Ntoni further cautioned motorists to drive carefully as the town has large earthmoving machines doing renovations on the Trans-Kalahari Highway.

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