Windhoek: The Namibia National Olympic Committee and Commonwealth Games Association (NNOC-CGA) has strongly denied the recent allegations and criticism made by prominent athletics coach Henk Botha concerning the ordering and distribution of team clothing for athletes.
According to Namibia Press Agency, Botha, in a recent statement, criticised the Olympic Committee regarding the handover of kits to Team Namibia ahead of the Youth Olympic Games scheduled for next month in Angola. He mentioned that one of the urgent issues pertains to the ordering and distribution of clothing for the athletes.
"Despite supplying complete size information well in advance, many athletes arrived after travelling long distances only to discover that their sizes were not available," he said, adding that this highlights a clear failure in planning and execution, resulting in unnecessary frustration and disappointment for athletes who deserve the highest level of care and preparation.
Botha noted that the clothing obtained from the United States of America was of unsatisfactory quality and did not feature branding specific to the event. "Such branding is essential for giving athletes the pride, identity, and sense of belonging that come with representing Namibia on the international stage. The decision to spend significant funds on items that do not meet these standards raises serious questions about financial responsibility and value for money," he stressed.
The Olympic Committee, in a statement released on Saturday, expressed its objection to the "allegations made and the inaccurate and misleading narrative regarding the governance and procurement processes of the NNOC-CGA." "For many years, NNOC-CGA has stood as a reputable institution anchored in a solid and honourable foundation established by its previous leadership. Our work continues to be guided by the principles of good governance, transparency, and an unwavering commitment to placing athletes at the centre of all strategic decisions," the statement reads.
The committee further emphasised that all organisational processes are carried out with intentionality, strict governance, and a strong commitment to prioritising the interests of athletes. "Notwithstanding this, we shall initiate dialogue with Henk Botha, as we remain committed to fostering constructive partnerships, collaborative engagement, and coherent alignment with all member federations and their technical members and athletes," the statement further adds.