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NSC Settles Flight Debts Ensuring Team Namibia’s Return from Tokyo Deaflympics

Windhoek: The Namibia Sport Commission (NSC), through the Directorate of Sport within the Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sport, Arts and Culture, has settled a significant debt owed by the Namibia Deaf Sport Federation (NDSF) to a service provider. This payment ensures the safe return of Team Namibia from the Tokyo 2025 Deaflympics in Japan, resolving an outstanding amount of more than N.dollars 240,000 that had jeopardized the team's return flights.

According to Namibia Press Agency, NSC's chief administrator, Freddy Mwiya, confirmed on Wednesday that the ministry had instructed the commission to address the arrears urgently. "We can confirm that the payment has been made to the service provider, and therefore, the team will be returning home. The ministry was initially supposed to make the payment, but as you know, Wednesday is a public holiday, so this was not possible. They requested us to intervene, which we did," Mwiya stated.

NDSF president, Abner Sheya, expressed gratitude to the Government of Namibia and the NSC for covering 50 percent of the unpaid flight expenses. "This support has allowed our team to return home with dignity. As a federation, we have learnt that early and detailed budget planning and engagement with the government are essential. Going forward, we will ensure funding applications are submitted earlier, with clear and realistic budgets, and we will work closely with the government and partners to guarantee that most of the team's needs are secured before travel," Sheya remarked.

Though the team did not secure medals at the event, Sheya emphasized the federation's appreciation for the support received. "We sincerely thank the Government of Namibia, the Namibia Sport Commission, NamPower, and MTC for their support. We have learnt a great deal from this experience and are committed to strengthening deaf sport in Namibia moving forward," he added.

Team Namibia is scheduled to leave Tokyo on November 28 and is expected to arrive in Namibia on November 29, 2025. Meanwhile, Sheya will remain in Tokyo to attend the International Committee of Sports for the Deaf (ICSD) Congress, which will take place from November 29 to 30, 2025.