By Michael Uugwanga
A group of disgruntled sportsmen and women, led by coach Letu Hamhola, called for a press briefing earlier today to voice their dissatisfaction with the manner in which national team members are selected for international events, including the Commonwealth Games.
The group is alleging that discrimination, racism, tribalism and favoritism are practiced by the Namibia National Olympics Committee (NNOC).
They feel that the Namibia Sports Commission is not tackling issues, such as the selection of athletes to represent Namibia at major events.
The athletes that raised their grieves are former 200m and 400m female sprinter Tjipe Herunga, now a retired athlete, former 800m runner and retired female athlete Agnes Samarai, former long distance runner Beata Naigambo and paralympian sprinter Johannes Nambala.
Herunga who missed the 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil, lashed out at NNOC leadership for her absent from the Games due to politics that continues to rock athletics.
“This has really affected me a lot. It is not only about the 2016 but I remember in 2008 in South Korea I came in 8th place in a time of 57 seconds in the 400m , when they (NNOC) gave me another coach, but when coach Hamhola was instill again he ran 51 seconds and I ended up winning the bronze medal,” said Herunga.
Nambala who is the only paralympian to win a world championship is not part of team Namibia that is currently in Birmingham, England as his heat is not there. He runs in the 200m and 400m T13.
“The Commonwealth Games is one body that likes to discriminate us paralympians. I am the only Namibian athletes that have always come back with a medal at any world championships since I started running at the world championships from 2013,” said Nambala.