WINDHOEK, Aug. 4 — Namibian President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has emphasized the role of sports in national development, expressing full support for the Namibian football team’s FIFA World Cup qualification bid while unveiling government plans to strengthen the country’s sports infrastructure.
Speaking at a fundraising event for the Brave Warriors in Windhoek on Saturday evening, Nandi-Ndaitwah said the campaign to see Namibia qualify for its first FIFA World Cup is more than a sporting goal, but a national priority that reflects the country’s unity, ambition and development vision.
“Our Brave Warriors are currently just four matches away from making history. This is a journey that requires collective effort from government, private sector and all Namibians,” she said.
The president highlighted that sports development is a strategic component of the Sixth National Development Plan (NDP6), launched last month, which includes the construction of modern stadiums in all 14 regions and basic sports facilities in all 121 constituencies across the country.
“Inadequate stadium infrastructure has deprived Namibians of the chance to watch their national team at home for the past five years,” she said.
“We are now addressing this directly through the NDP6 by accelerating the construction of CAF-compliant stadiums,” she said.
Under the plan, five Confederation of African Football (CAF) category 3 stadiums will be built in regions including Khomas, Erongo, Oshana, Kavango East and Kharas, with additional category 2 stadiums set for all remaining regions.
Nandi-Ndaitwah urged the business community to form long-term partnerships with national teams, and encouraged the Brave Warriors and coaching staff to stay focused on their preparations. (Xinhua)
