Day: July 29, 2024

WINDHOEK: After a disappointing performance against Zimbabwe in the semi-final match at the 2024 Rugby Africa Cup, Namibia’s senior rugby team, the Welwitschias, redeemed themselves with a strong showing against Kenya on Sunday, securing third place in the championship.

The senior national rugby team emerged victorious with a score of 38-27 in a high-scoring play-off of the Rugby Africa Cup, held at the renovated Mandela National Stadium and Wankulukuku Stadium in Kampala, Uganda.

The tournament featured the top eight rugby unions across Africa and served as the initial stage of preparation for the 2027 men’s Rugby World Cup qualifiers for the African region, to be held in the same country next year.

On Sunday, Namibia took control of the game from the beginning. Flyhalf Denzo Bruwer scored most of the penalties and conversions for the team, showcasing his strong kicking skills.

The Welwitschias demonstrated their determination by scoring four tries just before half-time, giving them a 26-5 lead at the br
eak.

In the second half, Kenya made a comeback by scoring two quick tries at the beginning. However, Namibia remained resilient and responded each time Kenya scored points.

Kenya brought in Derrick Lusambili, who made a significant impact. His presence became evident when he scored a crucial point for his team, briefly raising Kenyan hopes.

However, halfback Jacques Theron ensured that Namibia secured third place in this year’s tournament as he responded with his try for the Namibian outfit, which Bruwer, who was having a fine day with the boot, converted.

Namibia, who entered the competition as record African champions, lost their title to Zimbabwe in the semi-finals and will now return home with a bronze medal.

Source: The Namibia News Agency

Top Namibian racehorses Queen Britannia from Angermund Racing and Sunnyside from the Professor Supporters Club won the main races at the First National Bank (FNB) July handicap racing event at Okahatjipara Turf Club in Okondjatu on Saturday.

The Namibia Horse Racing Association (NHRA) partnered with Professor Supports Club and FNB to host the competition with 75 horses competing in 17 races for a prize pool of N.dollars 200 000. Trophies and medals were also awarded.

Queen Britannia won the Import Open 2400 metres, the main event for Thoroughbred horses, while Sunnyside won the 2 400m A-Division, the primary race for Nambred horses.

The Okahatjipara Turf Club, dubbed the Professor Supporters Club, surpassed expectations on Saturday with a strong turnout that saw the hosting club’s horse win two races.

Sunnyside won the Nambred Open 1 000m race before being proclaimed champion in race 16 and becoming the new Nambred Division champion in the 2 400m race, a title previously held by Aminius Racing’s Lady Diam
ond. The champion won N.dollars 13 500.

In the Thoroughbred category, new kid on the block Queen Britannia from Angermund Racing competed against top horses such as Starlile from Okahandja Racing to set a triple record after recently winning the Okahandja racing event, including the Winter Derby.

Starlile started well, but Queen Britannia quickly took the lead and never looked back. Starlile made a late drive around the last turn but was left in the dust, leaving the Rehoboth horse in first place and wining N.dollars 20 000, while Starlile settled for N.dollars 15 000 in second.

Other horses who delivered outstanding performances included Naro Empire from Kalahari Turf Club, winning the Nambred Maiden 1 000m and 1 400m, and Shining Diamond from Epukiro Turf Club, who won the Nambred Graduation 1 000 and 1 600-metre races. Talktome from Balabala claimed the Nambred D-Division 1 000 and 1 800 metres, respectively.

Event organiser Timo Mujeu acknowledged FNB for creating a legacy as the biggest sponsor of th
e horseracing event since 2017, while calling on potential investors to follow suit in assisting the club in hosting its 10th anniversary races next year.

Source: The Namibia News Agency

Northern Pride MPSH Football Club and Otjinene-based Fine Young Stars shared the title in the annual Unockie Popinaa Kasume Tournament Sunday night after a power outage led to the final’s cancellation.

The tournament began on Saturday, with 33 football and 22 netball teams playing for a prize of N.dollars 60 000 across all divisions at Windhoek’s Khomasdal Stadium and Eros Stadium.

Tournament organiser Ngatuuane Hange told Nampa on Monday the event was a success despite Sunday’s power outage, which led to the final football match being cancelled and the finalists splitting the spoils evenly.

‘It was a successful tournament which saw close to 60 teams competing. Despite all these teams, we managed to host the event with the little resources at our disposal,’ he said.

Hange highlighted that the yearly competition is organised in memory of the late netball star, who competed at the local and regional levels for almost a decade.

The football category featured some intriguing battles, with teams from all over
the country coming together for the common goal of football development.

In the semi-finals, Oshakati MPSH defeated Mariental outfit One Love by a single goal to advance to the final, whilst Fine Young Stars also overcame Mafumhe FC, 1-0.

However, due to late-night lighting challenges at the Khomasdal Stadium, the two teams split the N.dollars 30 000 prize for the finalist equally, with each receiving N.dollars 15 000.

One Love and Mafumhe each settled for N.dollars 5 000 as semi-final losers.

The tournament’s highlight was a netball duel between professional players from the top and second divisions.

On Sunday, Renamo Bucks defeated M-Desh Army by a slim margin of 29-26. The other semi-final saw Otjimanangombe exact sweet retribution on Fine Young Stars, a team that thrashed them in the semi-finals of the Omaheke Top Eight tournament two weeks ago in Gobabis, with a 31-19 scoreline.

Despite unleashing their might on Fine Young Stars, the latter failed to capitalise on their momentum, losing narrowly to
Renamo Bucks in the final in an Epukiro affair that saw Renamo Bucks take the trophy, winning N.dollars 10 000 and a trophy. Otjimanangombe received N.dollars 5 000. Fine Young Stars and M-Desh Army each received N.dollars 2 500 as semi-final losers.

Source: The Namibia News Agency

WINDHOEK: Namibian mountain biker, Alex Miller, was unable to finish his race at the 2024 Paris Olympics after dropping out on lap three of the scheduled eight laps on Monday.

The multi-sport event features athletes competing in 329 events across 32 sports in Paris, France.

In his previous Olympic appearance in Tokyo 2021, Miller finished 31st in the mountain bike event. The 23-year-old Namibian struggled in his second appearance at the global championship which was held at Elancourt Hill.

Out of the 36 riders in the race, Miller and South African rider Alan Hatherly were the only African participants.

At the recent mountain biking championships, Thomas Pidcock, the world’s number-one ranked rider, secured his second Olympic gold medal impressively. The Great Britain rider completed the race in a time of one hour, 26 minutes, and 22 seconds (01:26:22) to resonate his first gold medal win three years ago at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics in Japan.

South African rider Hatherly clinched a bronze medal at this year
‘s championships, while French rider Victor Koretzky took home the silver medal after completing the 35.2-kilometre (km) race, which required riders to complete eight laps of a 4.4-kilometre course.

Koretzky and Hatherly were just nine and 11 seconds behind the winner.

Team Namibia has four athletes representing the country at this year’s Olympics. The athletes will compete in cycling (road and mountain biking), swimming, and marathon running.

The next Namibian cyclist expected to represent the country will be Vera Looser, who will compete in the women’s road race scheduled for Sunday, 04 August 2024.

At the previous championships in Tokyo 2021, Namibia earned a silver medal in the women’s 200-meter sprint. Christine Mboma ended Namibia’s 22-year medal drought at the Olympics.

Source: The Namibia News Agency