AB InBev launches Northern Grassroots Soccer

OMUTHIYA, 23 AUG  – AB InBev Namibia launched a community sports development project in northern Namibia called Northern Grassroots Soccer at Omuthiya in the Oshikoto Region on Wednesday.
The initiative is geared at bringing communities together and giving the youth social skills to enable them to build healthy lifestyles and improve their respective communities.
Oshikoto Governor Henock Kankoshi officiated at the event and was accompanied by, amongst others, Omuthiya Mayor Katrina Uusiku, the company’s Northern Trust representative, Nico Kaiyamo, and its legal and corporate affairs manager Maija-Liisa Hangala.
The project targets a population of approximately 70 000 people in the constituencies of Omuthiya and Onayena in the Oshikoto Region, Okatana in the Oshana Region and Elim and Outapi in the Omusati Region.
In the initial stages, the initiative will reach 1 per cent of the targeted population this year and 10 per cent next year.
“This is a good day for the region of Oshikoto, and a step in the right direction,” said Kankoshi in his address, adding that the Oshikoto community trusts that the programme will form the basis for present and future development of the communities and the concerned constituencies.
Challenging the participants to take advantage of the opportunity afforded to them, Kankoshi said with the high unemployment rate in the country, initiatives such as Northern Grassroots Soccer can be used to create employment opportunities.
Sports analyst and project facilitator, Mathew Haikali told those present the goal is to see the development of a fully-fledged soccer league that runs at both village and constituency level and culminates in a regional tournament.
The initial stage of the programme, Haikali said, will run for six months and will involve about 30 volunteer coaches from the constituencies, with 30 players each.
“Through the programme, we hope to pass on tools that the participants will apply to everyday healthy living,” Haikali narrated, and went on to say the acquisition of skills will benefit individuals for the rest of their life.
NAMPA