Uutoni calls for rugby in northern Namibia

OSHAKATI, 05 AUG – Minister of Sport, Youth and National Service, Erastus Uutoni has said it is hard to find rugby being played in northern Namibia despite the fact that the area has strong and talented athletes for the game.
Addressing the youth at the Oshakati Youth Expo at the Oshakati Independence Stadium over the weekend, Uutoni said rugby is mostly prominent in Windhoek, Swakopmund and Rehoboth.

“I want to see Windhoek, Swakopmund and Rehoboth playing rugby with Oshakati here,” Uutoni told his audience which included Oshana Governor, Clemens Kashuupulwa.
For rugby to be developed in northern Namibia, Uutoni suggested that a rugby academy be introduced and for local business personalities to consider the provision of rugby facilities and fields.
During his visit to northern Namibia last month, Uutoni bemoaned the fact that existing sports facilities were allowed to dilapidate in the regions and called on the regional leaderships to ensure that such facilities are taken care of and kept up to standard for athletes to use them.

Caribbean, a volleyball, basketball and tennis court in Oshakati, is one facility that Uutoni singled out as one that was allowed to dilapidate in the country.
He also encouraged regional governors to join hands with the business community to organise and sponsor sports indabas in their respective regions for sport advancement.
Talented athletes, Uutoni said, would be identified and groomed through regional sport tournaments for national teams.
NAMPA