Augustinium Basketball courts to receive N$200,000 upgrade

Basketball
FNB and NBF collaborate to ensure equal distribution of resources, coaching development, and infrastructure for Namibia's future basketball stars
Phillipus Josef
  • 3 Months Ago - 2024-08-15 00:00:00
The Namibia Basketball Federation (NBF) and First National Bank (FNB) Namibia yesterday joined forces to launch the refurbishment of the Augustinium basketball courts. The project, valued at N$200,000, aims to support the growth of the sport at the grassroots level across the country, benefiting both boys and girls.
The initiative which is part of a broader sponsorship agreement with FNB, which has increased its commitment to N$317,400 for this year. This sponsorship, now in its second year, is set to increase annually and will ensure that school divisions nationwide operate smoothly.
President of the NBF, Nigel Mubita, emphasized: "The funds are meant to decentralize and provide equal distribution among the sport at the grassroots level." With 12 regions participating in the national league and over ten schools from each division, ranging from under-10 to under-19.
Speaking at the event yesterday, the Minister of Sport, Agnes Tjongarero, touched on the importance of corporate involvement in sports, particularly in nurturing young talent. "Corporate involvement in sport is vital, and every child needs to be involved in the world of sport," she said. "The aim is to produce not only players on the court but to produce future Olympians as well," she said
In addition, the NBF also announced that the 5-on-5 tournament, originally scheduled for September, has been rescheduled to December. The delay was due to a lack of transportation, but with government support, the necessary logistics will be in place for the December games.
To further support the development of basketball in Namibia, the NBF held a coaching clinic in Windhoek last month. Led by FIBA instructors from South Africa and the USA, the week-long clinic, held from 15 to 24 July at the Unam Gym Hall, provided coaches from across Namibia with an opportunity to update their knowledge and skills based on the latest FIBA regulations. This initiative aligns with the federation's goal of providing efficient coaching development to young players at the grassroots level.