Can’t wait to see more in 2024
As a Namibian fan, there was much to get excited about in 2023 and more to look forward to in 2024 – which, as we know, would be the year of the Paris Olympics.There are positive indicators that the small South West African population, spread across a vast desert country, would continue to punch above its weight in various sports codes, despite having to overcome plenty of hindrances.
Athletics Namibia is expected to welcome back its supremely talented sprinting pair of Christine Mboma and Beatrice Masilingi, who has been under the brightest of international spotlights despite both only being 20 years old.
The memory of Masilingi and Mboma both reaching the 2021 Olympic final in the 200 metres and finishing sixth and third respectively will not fade, as both attempt another spectacular comeback season. It remains to be seen how their enforced period of inactivity will affect their performances as they are expected to gradually rise in prominence again.
The Namibian Cycling Federation will be looking eagerly at upcoming prospects. Vera Looser has completed a year of unparalleled success which included winning both the Absa Cape Epic and the Absa Swiss Epic, with Kim Le Court of Mauritius as her partner.
Individually, the 30-year-old has found her niche in the UCI Marathon Mountainbiking World Cup series, rapidly rising in the rankings, reaching her first podium finish in Italy, before winning a UCI World Cup race in Morzine, France.
Her seventh position at the UCI marathon world championship in Glasgow was another highlight, as Looser was deservedly named Namibia’s sports woman of the year.
Alex Miller, now 23, already has the 2021 Olympics and the 2022 Commonwealth Games behind him, winning a bronze medal in mountain biking at the latter event. The likes of Miller and recent record-breaking winner of The Munga, Drikus Coetzee, look set to represent Namibia with more honour in the coming year.
TEAM SPORTS
As far as team sports go, plenty of exciting challenges await the Land of the Brave.
Its men’s football team will soon depart to the African Cup of Nations to be held in Ivory Coast.
Coach Collin Benjamin’s men have defied the odds by qualifying despite their country not having any stadiums approved by football’s governing bodies and thus being forced to play their home matches at venues abroad.
The Brave Warriors will be determined to enhance their reputation as dangerous underdogs by making their mark in Group E, which pits them against six-time FIFA World Cup qualifier and 2004 continental champion Tunisia in their opening match on 16 January.
Five days later, the clash against South Africa should be another remarkable occasion. Bafana Bafana will be slight favourites, having won twice previously against Namibia’s once, while the teams also drew six times.
The Namibians will also face off against Mali, against whom they have a history of one win, one draw and two losses.
In rugby, the restart of the next four-year-cycle will provide the early clues to Namibia’s prospects leading up to the 2027 World Cup in Australia.
Successful campaigns for the national U20 team at the continental level, as well as for the Windhoek Draught Welwitschias in South African provincial competition would be imperative in restoring the pipeline of fresh talent identification and development.
Cricket Namibia is also gearing towards maximising its exposure and building on its current golden era. First up, its return to the Under-19 World Cup for the first time since 2018 has been long overdue. Can Alex Volschenk’s boys extend the run of stunning upsets Namibia has delivered previously?
In June, the Richelieu Eagles will arrive at their third ICC T20 World Cup in a row, having achieved wins at both previous appearances. No opponent will take Gerhard Erasmus and his men lightly – as Sri Lanka, Ireland, Scotland and the Netherlands can attest.
Hockey, inline hockey and boxing are also among the codes sure to generate pride for Namibian sports lovers over the next twelve months.
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