Windhoek: The Namibia Deaf Sports Federation (NDSF) is urgently seeking N.dollars 800,000 to fulfill its goal of making a historic first appearance at the Deaflympics in Tokyo, Japan, next month.
According to Namibia Press Agency, NDSF president Abner Sheya expressed that the team has been diligently preparing for their debut at the championships but is struggling with financial constraints. Sheya highlighted that this marks the first time Namibia will send a team to the Deaflympic Games. Despite their motivation and readiness, the team has been unable to conduct a comprehensive training camp due to funding shortages. Only a limited number of athletes have received support to attend high-performance centers, with the majority training locally with minimal resources.
Sheya emphasized that Namibia's participation in the Deaflympics represents national pride, inclusion, and the recognition of deaf athletes on the international stage. It opens opportunities for growth, experience, and future participation in global competitions. While the federation has received some financial support from the Ministry of Sport and NamPower, it remains insufficient to cover all expenses. The team still requires approximately N.dollars 800,000 to cover outstanding costs for the trip to Japan. The NDSF has sought further assistance from the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture but has yet to receive a response.
In an interview, the Director of Sports, Jo-Ann Manuel, stated that the government has already provided financial assistance to the federation and is currently unable to offer further support. She explained the difficulty in assisting sport codes without sufficient funds, as resources must be distributed among 43 sport codes by March 2026. Manuel encouraged the NDSF to approach corporate Namibia for additional support.
Sheya noted that the NDSF plans for athletes to compete in athletics and judo, stressing that this ambition can only be realized with adequate resources. Ten athletes have been selected and are training individually under challenging conditions due to limited resources and the absence of a central training camp. As this is the first time Namibia's deaf athletes will participate in the Deaflympics, Sheya calls on corporate partners and the Executive Director of Sport to support this significant journey.
The Namibian team will be coached by Peter Uushona, Erasmus Shindodi, and Lina Kanana.