THE NAMIBIAN SPORT TUESDAY 30 OCTOBER 2018 27 Sport Comment – Stop the rot Hamilton fends off DEAR members of the that no corporate can shy Namibian football lovers. NFA executive com- away from. The South Not to yourself. You were ‘greatest’ talk, says ‘genius’ mittee, African Premier Soccer elected to fulfil the wishes I am writing this open League, I am told, has of the football-loving Schumacher is man to catch letter to you as custodians won the favour of corpo- public. Your job was of our football, the game rate South Africa to such simple. It was to ensure MEXICO CITY – Lewis Hamilton a great champion is about more than we love. I want to state an extent that in the event that there is a conducive yesterday deflected suggestions that just winning races.” from the onset that apart that all their sponsors environment for young he might be the greatest Formula One He added that Hamilton, despite from being part-owner decide to pull out today, men and women to play driver of all time, saying that seven- some criticism of his private lifestyle, of Tura Magic, a club they will be able to run and enjoy football. To time champion Michael Schumacher had risen without any such negativity. in the Namibia Premier Isack Hamata their operations for five create an environment remains the man who most deserves “You can like, or not, the way he League, I hold no official years uninterrupted with that attracts sponsors to that label. is in life, but there’s nothing nasty position that entitles me of football to alleviate the reserves they have football and make it grow The 33-year-old Briton, who on or negative with it. There’s nothing to address you in this poverty, create employ- amassed over the years. so it can become a fully Sunday clinched his fifth drivers’ nasty towards his opponents. There’s manner, and you may ment opportunities, put Namibian football is fledged industry, which title when he finished fourth for respect. therefore find my way of bread on the table and buy unfortunately in a state of will support government’s Mercedes in the Mexican Grand Prix, “There’s no question mark on ‘Is he approaching you at odds nappies for babies should chaos, and you, the NFA job-creation efforts. You rejected consideration of himself as cheating or not? Has he been dirty?’ with your statutes. be commended. executive committee, by are failing, my senior the greatest in history, citing his father That makes a big difference.” Nevertheless, I write to Hardly a day passes your silence, are directly brothers and sisters. Anthony’s mantra to “do your talking Hamilton’s former Mercedes team- you as a very concerned without being confronted responsible for the state Perhaps you do not on the track.” mate 2016 world champion Nico football lover. My name by people who express that our soccer is in. To attend Brave Warriors Hamilton’s achievement drew him Rosberg, who has known him since and face are synonymous concern about the state state that football is on matches. I do. Let me tell level with the sport’s ‘godfather’, Juan the pair were junior karting team- with football in this of football. I have stopped autopilot is an under- you what happens there. Manuel Fangio, on five titles with mates, said he believed he can go on country. And I am not walking in town because statement. Football is the When Namibia wins, only German Schumacher ahead on to break all of Schumacher’s records. saying it to bring glory I am embarrassed to face latest comedy show that people lose themselves. seven. Schumacher, with 91, also has “He can seriously go for Schu- unto myself. People questions about the state people are entertaining Some drink, and some more race victories, another target for macher’s records now,” he said. “He’s know my passion and of our football. And I am themselves with on a daily do whatever to express Hamilton during the two remaining got two more years on the contract love for Namibian foot- not even close to being a basis. The president and their happiness. Some years of his current Mercedes contract. and ‘Schumi’ is only two titles and ball. I am that one indi- member of the football secretary general of the lose their voices, some But the Englishman put such statis- 20 race wins away. That’s possible vidual who will watch leadership. NFA are engaged in an lose their clothes and tical ambitions into a distant perspec- in two years. Amazing. football at Sam Nujoma Football in Namibia open war, which further shoes, all in the name of tive when he adopted a modest role “He can really try and statistically Stadium while the rest is not a self-sustaining undermines the brand of football. When the team on his own triumphant career. become the best of all time, which of Namibians are glued industry. At least not yet. football. We do not know loses, especially at home, “Firstly, I could never personally is unreal, but it is a possibility. So to their television sets, Football is very depend- the genesis of the fight people go and sleep early. classify myself as the best,” said I’m sure he’s going to be motivated watching a top English ent on the goodwill of the between the president Some attack the coach and Hamilton. “Obviously, within myself, by that.” Premier League or Span- government (for national and the secretary general players on social media. I know my abilities and where I stand, Hamilton signed a contract exten- ish La Liga or South teams), and on business of the NFA, but what is I don’t blame them. They but ultimately, as my dad always told sion earlier this year that will keep African Premier Soccer entities. clearly evident is the love their team, and they me since I was eight years old – he him with Mercedes until the end of League game. I am that In some cases, which damage it is causing to love their football. That’s said ‘do your talking on the track’. 2020. one individual who takes are actually very preva- the brand of Namibian the way they have learned “So I just try to let my results and He is only 20 adrift of Schu- my children and drives lent, it is club officials and football. It is hurting those to express their emotions. the results from the things that I do macher’s 91 race wins and could to the corner of Monte the parents of players who of us who look at football But imagine if winning outside of my sport, hopefully, also make inroads into that total in the Christo and Otjomuise dig deep into their pockets as a means to an end for becomes consistent. We contribute to that. So people can two final races this year in Brazil and roads on the outskirts to fund the operations of our young people. will be a very happy na- hopefully create a decent opinion. Abu Dhabi when the constructors’ of Windhoek to watch their clubs. If you don’t know, tion. But you are failing “But Michael’s still quite far ahead championship will also be settled informal settlements Football does, however, every day of no football the people whose happi- in race wins so you have to say he is with Ferrari bidding to end Mercedes’ league matches, where have the potential to be in Namibia means one ness depends on football. still the GOAT (greatest of all time).” triumphant four-year run. players wear nothing self-sustaining. We have day more of no income As custodians of our Discussion of Hamilton’s standing Hamilton has always resisted talk else but passion on their perhaps not yet discovered for our players. Every football, we are tired of in the exclusive club of the sport’s of record-breaking, saying merely sleeves. the formula to make it day of the public spats your silence. Football is multiple champions had started in that he may be “hoping I can at least I believe in the power profitable, as is the case that you have allowed to being destroyed on your earnest before he overcame chronic get close,” and reiterated after Sun- and ability of Namibian in other countries, where play themselves out in watch. Is this not the low- tyre-wear problems to secure his fifth day’s race that he had “not really put football to transform football is taken seriously. the open means one day est point in our football? title at the Autodromo Hermanos any thought towards getting to that the lives of our young Football could do a lot more of a loss of trust All the significant gains Rodriguez. number because I’ve been trying to men and women. I know more for Namibian youths by stakeholders and the of the past years are be- Canadian Jacques Villeneuve, the focus on this one.” it because 25 of those if we create the necessary waning of reputations. ing wiped out by personal 1997 champion, said that he felt the He added: “Whether or not I’m go- young men play for my environment for it to grow As a football person, I fights and the destruction way in which Hamilton had suc- ing to have the chance to win more, team, Tura Magic. The into a profitable and sus- also go around speaking of football’s reputation. ceeded throughout his career put him who knows? But I’m going to give lowest-earner at my club tainable enterprise.
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