Day: February 11, 2024

WINDHOEK: The national Futsal team, 'Brave Fives,' qualified for their first-ever African Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals by defeating Tanzania 6-3 on Friday night in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania. The Namibian Futsal team, who recently joined the international football family, lost their first-leg qualifier 5-2 at home but redeemed themselves with an impressive away performance. The win saw the Brave Fives qualify for the AFCON finals on their first attempt after the two teams were levelled on an aggregate score of eight goals each. However, a better away goal scored saw Namibia progress to the championships' finals. Futsal AFCON is the primary national futsal tournament for the Confederation of African Football (CAF) countries and has been held every four years since its inception in 1996. It serves as a pathway for qualification to the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) Futsal World Cup. This year's championship will take place in Rabat, Morocco from 08 to 17 April with eight nations set t o compete for the top honours including Angola, Egypt, Mauritania, Namibia, Ghana, Libya, Zambia and the host, Morocco. Mauritania and Namibia will be making their first appearance at this continental showpiece. The top three teams of the tournament will qualify as the CAF representatives for the 2024 FIFA Futsal World Cup to be held in Uzbekistan from 14 September to 04 October 2024. In a recent interview with Nampa, Futsal Namibia founder Andrei Tirtirau said Namibia has a good team and qualifying for the Futsal AFCON is a dream come true. 'Our first appearance in the Futsal tournament is going to put Namibia on the map as a nation with a pool of talented footballers in our league. We are excited about the opportunity to compete with the biggest nations on the continent and qualifying for the tournament still feels unbelievable but it's a real good accomplishment,' he said. Tirtirau added that the team will take a one-week break and thereafter reassemble to focus on preparations for the AFCON tournamen t, as their ultimate goal is to qualify for the 2024 Futsal World Cup, which he believes is an achievable dream if they prepare well. Source: The Namibia Press Agency

WINDHOEK: The national Futsal team, 'Brave Fives,' qualified for their first-ever African Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals by defeating Tanzania 6-3 on Friday night in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania. The Namibian Futsal team, who recently joined the international football family, lost their first-leg qualifier 5-2 at home but redeemed themselves with an impressive away performance. The win saw the Brave Fives qualify for the AFCON finals on their first attempt after the two teams were levelled on an aggregate score of eight goals each. However, a better away goal scored saw Namibia progress to the championships' finals. Futsal AFCON is the primary national futsal tournament for the Confederation of African Football (CAF) countries and has been held every four years since its inception in 1996. It serves as a pathway for qualification to the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) Futsal World Cup. This year's championship will take place in Rabat, Morocco from 08 to 17 April with eight nations set t o compete for the top honours including Angola, Egypt, Mauritania, Namibia, Ghana, Libya, Zambia and the host, Morocco. Mauritania and Namibia will be making their first appearance at this continental showpiece. The top three teams of the tournament will qualify as the CAF representatives for the 2024 FIFA Futsal World Cup to be held in Uzbekistan from 14 September to 04 October 2024. In a recent interview with Nampa, Futsal Namibia founder Andrei Tirtirau said Namibia has a good team and qualifying for the Futsal AFCON is a dream come true. 'Our first appearance in the Futsal tournament is going to put Namibia on the map as a nation with a pool of talented footballers in our league. We are excited about the opportunity to compete with the biggest nations on the continent and qualifying for the tournament still feels unbelievable but it's a real good accomplishment,' he said. Tirtirau added that the team will take a one-week break and thereafter reassemble to focus on preparations for the AFCON tournamen t, as their ultimate goal is to qualify for the 2024 Futsal World Cup, which he believes is an achievable dream if they prepare well. Source: The Namibia Press Agency

The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) Ghana, has sworn into office a 16-member council to run its affairs for the next two years. The Council, the eight in the series, will influence and shape government policies, provide education and training at all levels and in all sectors to ensure standardized practices. The governing council comprises Mr Mark Amoamah, President, Mr Lackson Legah, Vice President, Finance, Andrews Osei, Vice President, Education and Professional Development, Alhaj Saaka Dumba, Vice President, Roads, Ephraim Asare, Vice President, Logistics, and Dky Frimpong Manso, Vice President, Rail. The others are Madam Naa Densua Aryeetey, Vice President, Maritime, Mr Patrick Andoh, Executive Member, Dr. Ebi Hammond, Immediate Past President, Mr Maxwell Zah, Chairman, Tema Section, Ebenezer Adjei, Chairman, Accra Section, The rest are Clement Kubakwana, Chairman Takoradi Section, David Antwi, Chairman, Kumasi Section, Emmanuel Kankam Boadu, Chairman, Sunyani Section, Linda Owu su-Afriyie, Chairman, WILAT, and Oliver Bowers, Chairman, Next Generation. Mr Amoamah, at the inaugural ceremony, expressed excitement on his re-election to lead the Governing Council to continue to champion its ideals. He said his first term saw the institute make lots of strides in the industry, key among them being enhancing CILT-Ghana's visibility and corporate brand, and promoting CILT education and qualifications. The President, on behalf of his team, assured members of their resolve to position the Institute to achieve its vision and remain the leading professionals in the supply chain, logistics and transport sectors. The President assured the members that with the help of his executives, the Institute would develop strategic partnerships with developing partners to support their five-year strategic plan. He commended the outgoing Governing Council members for their dedication, commitment and selfless leadership to the service of the Institute. Dr Doreen Owusu-Fianko, a former Board Member of th e Ghana Airport Company, who chaired the inauguration, urged the executives to take bold decisions to impact the institute positively. 'Leadership is not about holding a position but accepting the challenges that come with it. You have been selected because of your ability and together help shape the future of logistics,' she said. The CILT, which has more than 54,000 memberships across the globe, was founded in 1919 in the United Kingdom and granted its Royal Charter in 1926. The Ghana branch was founded in 1965 and duly registered as a recognized professional body under the laws of Ghana. It has five sections in the country; Accra, Kumasi, Sunyani, Takoradi and Tema. Source: Ghana News Agency OSHAKATI: Namibia's Ambassador to the United States of America (USA), Margaret Mensah-Williams held a memorial service on Saturday to honour the legacy of the late President Hage Geingob. Geingob passed away at the age of 82 in Windhoek last Sunday. 'He not only shaped Namibia, he shaped Africa,' Mensah-Williams said during the ceremony held in Washington DC. She told the mourners that the late Geingob made it his mission to prioritise education throughout his life although he had to leave his country of birth in pursuit of knowledge and instruction that would later help him to challenge and change the system. The ambassador said he will always be hailed as the chief architect of the Namibian constitution and servant of the Namibian nation who devoted his life to liberating his country. Washington DC Mayor Muriel Bowser, in her remarks, stated that Geingob displayed his unwavering devotion to the people of Africa. 'He was a true liberation hero who fought for the people of Namibia and Africa at large an d was a leader of the people,' Bowser said. The embassies of the Russian Federation, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Haiti, Tanzania, Angola and The Philippines sent through their tributes to Mensah-Williams. Zambia's Ambassador to America, Chibamba Kanyama, stated that President Geingob provided significant leadership to help liberate the continent and help it gain economic independence. 'That's why the whole African continent is mourning a great leader,' Kanyama said. Zimbabwean Ambassador to America Tadeous Chifamba described President Geingob as a towering figure for the significant role both pre- and post-independence. As a Pan-Africanist he played a key role in the liberation of Namibia, he added. Geingob fought apartheid in Africa and most of the ambassadors were privileged to rub shoulders with the great leader of Africa, Chifamba said. Geingob will be laid to rest on 25 February 2024. Source: The Namibia Press Agency

OSHAKATI: Some residents in the Oshikoto and Ohangwena regions, were left in dire need after heavy rainstorms ripped through their areas, and destroyed their homes on Saturday evening. According to councillor Ferdinand Shifidi of Endola constituency on Sunday, heavy storms coupled with rain and wind affected approximately 200 houses in Onepandaulo village, in the Ohangwena region, where the roofs of most structures were ripped off. No one was harmed. 'Those affected are now left in dire need of assistance and we are waiting for advise on the way forward from the regional governor's office,' he said. Shifidi noted that his office currently has no funds to assist the affected communities, but will do a full assessment and take the matter up with the office of the governor for further intervention. Meanwhile, Iikokola village headman I-Ben Nashandi told this news agency that the storm uprooted homes, schools and trees, a situation which left the residents in the Oshikoto region in dire need of assistance. ' It is currently unknown how many houses were destroyed, as a proper assessment will be conducted,' he said and cautioned residents to refrain from touching or moving electrical infrastructures that are damaged, as they pose a danger. He expressed solidarity with all the affected residents and called on fellow citizens to assist with the speedy reconstruction of the area, as the damages to the properties are extensive. No injuries were recorded. Source: The Namibia Press Agency

WINDHOEK: Minister of Information and Communication Technology, Emma Theofelus, has said her promotion to Cabinet strengthened the Namibian leadership's belief in the potential of youth. She noted that her appointment by President Nangolo Mbumba on Friday strengthened the direction set by the late President Hage Geingob, who had faith in the potential of young people. 'The trust that His Excellency has bestowed upon me only cements the trajectory that Dr Hage Geingob has begun, that he has trust and belief in the ability of young people in Namibia,' Theofelus told the media following her swearing in at State House on Friday. 'I think moving forward, any leader who wants the youth populace to have a seat at the decision-making table has to be intentional about it. And I am grateful that that journey has begun today.' Her promotion effectively makes her the youngest cabinet minister in Namibia. 'I think it is only God's doing. He has done it once, making me the youngest deputy minister, and now he has done it again, making me the youngest minister in the country. To ensure the effective delivery of services to the Namibian people, President Mbumba made adjustments to the Cabinet, as per Article 32 (3) (i) (cc) and (dd) of the Namibian Constitution. Mbumba also appointed John Mutorwa as Deputy Prime Minister. He retained his position as Minister of Works and Transport. According to the presidency, Mutorwa will assist Prime Minister Saarah Kuugongelwa-Amadhila with disaster risk management, prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery. 'Our duties and responsibilities, whether it is the position of deputy prime minister or minister, are to assist in carrying out our responsibilities for the remainder of the term of office of our departed Dr Hage Geingob. And that is what I will do, and that is what I will continue to do,' Mutorwa told the media at State House. The former minister of information and communication technology, Dr. Peya Mushelanga, is now the Minister of International Relations and Cooperati on. The presidency said Mushelenga is, among others, entrusted with the primary functions of formulating, promoting, and executing Namibia's foreign policy and managing bilateral, regional, and international relations. He replaced former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, who is now Namibia's vice president. Former broadcaster and regional councillor Modestus Amutse said his appointment as deputy minister of information and communication technology came as a surprise. 'Indeed, I was not notified, but that is the order of the day in politics. You can expect anything to happen within the lifecycle of politics. I sincerely appreciate it because I had not foreseen that I would occupy a portfolio as deputy minister of information and communication technology, But I appreciate the president for trusting me and, of course, the Namibian people with the responsibility of information and communication,' Amutse said. Source: The Namibia Press Agenc y