Some memorable quotes during December 2008.
I knew it would be difficult because he set up the regions where he had support, so I am happy to have got four of the votes. Now Ill just need to work harder – I need one more vote to win the election. – Frank Fredericks after tying Athletics Namibia’s presidential elections at four votes each with Alpha Kangueehi.
The constitution makes provision that the current president has a casting vote. – Alpha Kangueehi.
The council cannot make a decision because there was none before the elections. – Frank Fredericks.
Before that election, there was no executive and therefore they had to choose a new leader and executive members from the beginning. As matters stand now, Kangueehi is not the president and at the moment, we are looking at how best we can help to find a solution to this problem. – Walter Haseb of the Namibia Sport Commission.
This is not an easy league, it’s not what it used to be in the past with Civics just running over teams. The playing fields are level now, we have quality coaches in the likes of Ronnie Kanalelo, Bobby Samaria and Gilbert Rwasoka, but there are far better coaches than even myself in the game. I am still a rookie and still learning and that’s why I say the playing fields are level now. For the spectator or the football lover this season is not to be missed. – Civics coach Ricardo Mannetti, after they beat Black Africa 2-1.
I fired a shot to scare them away. My gun is always with me and if anyone is threatening me, I will do it again. I does not matter whether it is at the game or not, I am prepared to do it. I will take the consequences, which I will maybe regret later. But as someone who is in the business of coaching and has his patience constantly tested by people, I have to protect myself too. – Black Africa coach Ronnie Kanalelo after he fired a warning shot at threatening spectators after the Civics game.
The NPL views the allegations in a very serious light and will do everything in its power to bring any transgressions of the football laws where, officials, players, and supporters are involved to book in accordance with the NPL disciplinary procedures. – A statement by the NPL following the Kanalelo incident.
I was on the verge of taking over Black Africa because I’ve been a fan of BA since my childhood. I can say I’m a diehard BA supporter – my blood is red and my skin is black. I had negotiations with Kandas Paulino, but what made me change my mind is the fact that my business is based in the Erongo region and it would be unethical for me to invest in Black Africa which is Windhoek-based. – Johnny Doeseb, owner of Eleven Arrows.
Currently Arrows’ wage bill per month is running between N$75 000 and 80 000 per month. That’s just the wage bill for the players and the technical staff – the running costs amount to about 115 000 per month. It’s a big investment that I’m making. I’m optimistic that things will change for the better and that’s why I’m not in a rush to find a sponsor. – Doeseb again.
It was a tough game. One of our former players, Stanley Haufiku, passed away in a car accident this week and some of our players went to his funeral today. We wanted to come out here and dedicate a victory to his memory but it turned out to be a very difficult game. Some of the players went to his funeral this morning and I don’t know if that played a role but at the end of the day we got the three points and we dedicate this victory to his memory. – Mec Naholo, manager of Hotspurs after they beat Mighty Gunners 1-0.
I am disappointed that we couldn’t the match. We dominated the match but SKW scored against the run of play. But generally, I can’t blame my guys, they didn’t take their chances, and even with 10 men in the last 20 minutes we created the better chances. It’s going to be very difficult to get off the foot of the table but we will end up in the top six at the end of the season – that I can promise everybody. – Ramblers chairman Harald Hecht after they lost 2-0 to Cymot SKW.
We did well in the first 15 minutes. We had control, but towards the end we lost control and conceded two goals. But its wonderful to see the boys coming back with only 10 players on the field and equalising, and showing that we can still make it in the Premier League. We have a lot of new inexperienced players in the team but I think that we will improve with each game. – Chief Santos coach Max Johnson after they lost 3-2 to African Stars.
Tommy came all the way from Oranjemund. He knew he was going to fight the champion, everybody knows I’m the best pound for pound fighter in Namibia. But Tommy was prepared and he came out very strong. People maybe expected me to knock Tommy out, but people must understand boxing, that every fighter comes out hungry when he takes on the best boxer. – Tyson Uushona, after beating Tommy Hango to retain the Namibian welterweight title.
I don’t want to fight local fighters anymore and I want to urge my promoter to give me an international fight. The time has come for me to fight on a bigger stage. I cannot decide what the future will hold, that is up to my promoter. But I urge my promoter, the Don King of Namibia, Nestor Tobias to give me a shot against the best in the welterweight division. – Uushona, again.
Malakia said he would knock me out in the first round but he could not do that. I was very fast and my movement was good. He did hurt me with a left right combination in the first round, but I came back strongly. My left hook is my powerful punch and I caught him with that. I tested him three times in the second round and in the third round I decided to knock him down. Now the business has started for the big league. Now I want to go for the Pan African title and the world title by next year. – Jatoorora Tjingavete, after retaining the Namibian lightweight title.
We are going to the communities where we are do our programs – that is the Nawa Life Outreach community programme, where we talk about HIV. As a former national player it is also time for me to give back to the community, to the people who were there for me when I played in the national team. – NawaSport ambassador Congo Hindjou.
The idea is to implement programs that will effect behaviour change amongst communities, because the only way one can solve the spread of HIV in Namibia and throughout the world is through behaviour change. – The director of the NawaLife Trust, Nahum Gorlick.
By bringing in Congo, Lolo and Danzyl, they really have attracted a lot more people than what we would have been able to. They have their hearts in soccer, a lot of people know them and are attracted to them and, as role models, they are able to be the leaders in behavioural change and the prevention message of HIV. – Gorelick again.
We received a letter from the IAAF saying that they don’t recognise the presidency of Athletics Namibia because there is currently no committee running AN and because of that we could not allow them to vote. But then AN tried to put their case across and the house later went into voting. Then 19 members said AN could not be allowed to vote so AN accepted that the majority was against them and they did not participate in the vote. – Outgoing Namibia National Olympic Committee secretary general, Abner Xoagub.
Last year I did the Desert Dash solo for the first time. It’s quite a unique race, you sit for 340km on a bike and not only must you prepare yourself physically, but a lot of mental preparation must also go into the race. Mentally you must be very strong to cycle through the night and conquer 340km. A couple of thoughts cross your mind when you are out there in the desert by yourself and that is the uniqueness of the event. – Mannie Heymans.
We at FNB are excited to be associated with the FNB Desert Dash which involves international cyclists such as Mannie Heymans who is the defending champion and also three times participant at the Olympic Games. I am credibly informed that the FNB Desert Dash has also attracted other international cyclists from the United States, The Netherlands, Germany, Sweden and Australia participating in the 24hour non-stop cycling competition. – FNB Corporate Communications Manager, Cassius Moetie.
FNB has successfully negotiated and secured the naming rights of two of the four FNB sponsored clubs. The clubs are now officially FNB Oshakati City Football Club and WesBank Tigers Football Club. Other special agreements have likewise been reached with African Stars and Black Africa to ensure similar win-win relationships. – Moetie again.