The Executive Director of the National Sports Authority (NSA), Dr. Emmanuel Saffa Abdulai Esq, and Shamsu Mustapha, NSA Project Coordinator, are currently on a three-day inspection visit in Swakopmund, Namibia to evaluate the resources and facilities available for hosting the inaugural African Traditional Sports Competition.
Dr. Abdulai, Head of the African Traditional Sports Secretariat, and Mustapha Shamshu, the President of the African Traditional Games Association, were warmly received by Dr. Peter Mawere, the Managing Director of Barakitso Sports Management (BSM), a subsidiary of the Barakitso Group (BG), and Mr. Fanus Engelbrecht, Chief Executive Officer of MTC Dome High-performance Namibia.
Speaking, Dr. Mawere highlighted Sierra Leone’s crucial role as the upcoming host of the All African Games for traditional sports and emphasized Dr. Abdulai’s accountability for all aspects before, during, and after the Games.
He praised MTC Dome for meeting international standards, pointing out its suitability for hosting the traditional African games.
Mr. Engelbrecht elaborated on MTC Dome’s capabilities as a high-performance indoor sporting facility, equipped with all the necessary amenities for hosting international games. He mentioned the facility’s offerings such as high-performance training, sports neuroscience, sports entrepreneurship, long-term athlete preparation for major events like the Olympics, and coach training, expressing eagerness to collaborate with the delegation.
Mustapha shared his excitement about the progress made in realizing the African Traditional Sports Competition, which many initially believed would take thirty years to materialize. He emphasized the extensive effort invested in bringing the event to fruition within six years and expressed optimism about the journey ahead.
On his part, Dr. Abdulai said he brought warm greetings from the President and People of Sierra Leone, and conveyed warm congratulations to Namibia for securing the bid to host the inaugural Africa Traditional Games. As the head of the African Traditional Sports Secretariat, he assured Namibia of their support throughout the hosting process.
He emphasized the significance of preserving culture and tradition in sports, highlighting Sierra Leone’s rich heritage in this regard. He stressed the importance of blending European sports with traditional cultural games to leave a lasting legacy for future generations.
He went on to say that culture and heritage are the cornerstones of a nation and a continent, emphasizing the role of traditional sports in maintaining African identity and promoting pan-Africanism.
The first day of the inspection visit concluded with a comprehensive two-hour tour of the indoor facilities and inspection of various arenas earmarked for the upcoming Games.
The visit marks a crucial step towards ensuring that Namibia is well-prepared to host the landmark event and showcases the commitment of both Sierra Leone and Namibia to promote traditional African sports on a continental stage.
Stay tuned for further developments and insights as the assessment continues.
NSA Media
