Johannes, Jonas receive rousing welcome

WINDHOEK, 19 Apr) – Gold medallists Junius Jonas Junius and Helalia Johannes received a rousing hero’s welcome on their arrival at the Hosea Kutako International Airport on their return from the Commonwealth Games held in Australia.
The duo arrived together with the rest of the Namibian team on Wednesday morning, where they were met by the Minister and Deputy Minister of Sports, Youth and National Service (MSYNS), Erastus Uutoni and Agnes Tjongarero.
Also present at the welcoming ceremony at HKIA were Deputy Minister of Gender Equality and Child Welfare, Lucia Witbooi, MSYNS Director of Sports, Edelberth Katamba, Director of Disability Sports, Jo-Anne Manuel and other high ranking officials in the ministry.
Speaking at the welcoming ceremony, Uutoni paid tribute to the team, saying they represented the country well.
“You have done something that made us to be a happy nation. You have shaken up various youth groupings who are celebrating the achievement which does not only belong to you, but to this beautiful country called Namibia,” he said, directing his message to the two gold medallists.
He said it was government’s priority to fight poverty by empowering youths through sports by availing funds through the ministry for preparation of the 2018 Commonwealth Games, despite the country’s financial challenges.
“We availed N.dollars 4 million for the team to prepare and participate at the games. Preparation is most important while participation and competing provide the opportunity to learn life lessons like sportsmanship, goals, leadership and time management,” he said.
He called on the business community to work in partnership with the ministry and government to help fulfil the mandate of developing sports in Namibia, as this is a multi-sectoral responsibility.
On their part, the winning athletes thanked the government, their families and colleagues for the support before, during and after the competition.
“There were some people who said I am old and why are they sending old people to compete, but the same old people brought back a medal. Thank you to those who believed in me and helped me not to give up, but to put in more effort,” Johannes said.
Junius, on the other hand said the motivation came from the Namibian people.
“This was not the preparation that started seven months ago, it started in 2014 where I felt I was robbed in the previous games. It pushed me to work hard and I am happy it paid off,” he said.
With the two gold medals, Namibia finished 19th out of 48 countries that participated in the games, while they were ranked sixth amongst the African countries.
Since 1994 when Namibia started participating in the Commonwealth Games, the country has won 20 medals, including five Gold, four silver and 11 bronze medals.
NAMPA