A Government minister has praised Debmarine Namibia for “rescuing netball” in Namibia after embarking on a new three-year sponsorship deal with Netball Namibia.
A Government minister has praised Debmarine Namibia for “rescuing netball” in Namibia after embarking on a new three-year sponsorship deal with Netball Namibia.
Otto Shikongo (third from left) hands over the cheque to Hon Agnes Tjongarero (fourth left), watched by (from left) Joel Mathews, Chair of Namibia Sports Commission; Willy Mertens, Senior Financial Manager of Debmarine Namibia; Lydia Mutenda, President of Netball Namibia; and Imelda Nerongo, Secretary General of Netball Namibia.
The partnership agreement, covering the years from 2017 to 2019, involves a targeted sponsorship amount of N$1.8 million. The company’s decision was prompted by a call from the Government to the corporate world to boost sport in Namibia.
Hon Agnes Tjongarero, Deputy Minister of Sports, Youth and National Service, thanked the company for acknowledging the dire straits of netball in Namibia, saying: “I sincerely thank Debmarine Namibia for rescuing netball in Namibia. It has acknowledged the importance of developing the most elite female sport in this country.”
She added that the company recognised the role of women by empowering them as leaders. Netball had the ability to instil discipline in young girls, refocus them and prevent teenage pregnancies.
Otto Shikongo, Chief Executive Officer of Debmarine Namibia, a joint venture between De Beers Group and the Government of the Republic of Namibia, said: “As a responsible corporate citizen, Debmarine Namibia believes in bringing diamond dreams into reality. We therefore strongly believe that our sponsorship will without doubt foster socio-economic benefits for communities, thereby realising the hopes of many during these challenging times.”
There are more than 54 different sports played in Namibia, which the Government says it cannot cater for, hence the reliance on companies for support. Netball is a popular sport, which is predominately played by Namibian girls.
The sponsorship funds will go towards the Annual Senior National Netball Championships and the Annual Netball Pent Series played by Namibia, Botswana, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
It will also cover regional league grants of N$10,000 per region, the training of umpires, and the development of the first Netball Namibia website.