Namibian youth wrestlers shine in Cape Town
Namibia’s young wrestlers returned from the South African Wrestling Federation (SAWF) Youth and Presidents National Championships in Cape Town with an impressive haul of 10 gold, five silver and seven bronze medals.
The championships, covering freestyle, women’s and Presidents categories, were held last weekend at the UCT Sports Centre in Rondebosch.
The Namibia Wrestling Federation (NWF) was represented by a 27-member youth team, with several wrestlers producing strong performances across the different age groups.
Among the gold medallists were Pieter van Niekerk, Liam Slabber, George Haimbodi, Immanuel Kaamukulwa, Jasmine Gawases and Elle Hansen. George Haimbodi, Immanuel Kaamukulwa, Nathen Motrich Vleermuis and Twakulilwa Nghilfavali Haimbodi were also among those who secured podium finishes in the Presidents competition.
In the women’s section, Gawases and Hansen claimed gold in both competitions, while Amalia Elithea Ponheleyetu Venonya won two bronze medals. Laura Theron added a bronze and a silver.
Development remains the priority
The NWF said the medal tally was a positive reflection of the hard work, commitment and consistent training invested by the wrestlers and their coaches in preparation for the championships.
However, the federation stressed that the primary objective of competing in tournaments of this nature remains long-term athlete development.
“Providing our young wrestlers with exposure to larger, highly competitive tournaments is an important part of developing confident, experienced and resilient athletes,” the federation said.
The competition allowed the Namibian wrestlers to test their skills against different opponents and under the pressure of a major tournament. While some returned home with medals, others gained valuable experience from difficult matches and important lessons on the mat.
The NWF said every wrestler who represented Namibia demonstrated determination and sportsmanship, regardless of the final result.
Officials gain international exposure
The championships also provided valuable exposure for two Namibian technical officials, Alvaro Eixab and Erika Theron, who officiated during the competition.
The pair will now travel to Amman, Jordan, for the Veteran World Wrestling Championships. Eixab will attempt to obtain his Level 1 international referee licence, while Theron, who earned her Level 1 licence in 2025, will gain further international experience.
The NWF thanked the Namibia National Olympic Committee for its financial support towards the officials’ development and participation.
The federation also expressed its appreciation to the SAWF for hosting the championships and maintaining a strong sporting relationship with Namibia.
The NWF further thanked the coaches, team management, parents, guardians, clubs and supporters who contributed towards making the tour possible.
The federation said the experience gained in Cape Town would contribute to developing the next generation of Namibian wrestlers and strengthening technical officiating in the country.
