T
Mboma, Masilingi mesmerise many
HE perfect antidote to pandemic fatigue in Namibia came at exactly the right time in the form of two young athletes, Christine Mboma and Beatrice Masilingi (both 18 years old). By now it is a well-documented fact that the Land of the Brave – like the rest of the world – has been suffering from severe Covid-19 exhaustion.
Mboma made a sensational debut at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan, where she scooped a medal for Namibia – the first in many years. She received a silver medal, while Masilingi made the country equally proud with a worthy sixth place in the women’s 200 m event. In fact, Mboma is the youngest Olympic medalist in a women’s race in close to 50 years. When the two track and field superstars returned home with their coach, Henk Botha, they were treated to a dinner worthy of international celebrities. They were guests of honour of President Hage Geingob at State House. For President Geingob it had been a special 80th birthday gift on 3 August when the two girls, despite the overwhelming heat and humidity in Japan, managed to put the country firmly back on the global map – this time for the right reasons. Reacting to the glorious moment, local fitness instructor Liezel Ndjaronguru posted on Facebook: “Big congratulations to Christine Mboma, official Olympic medalist. It’s been a long time since we have celebrated as a nation together – united for one goal with so much joy, and on our president’s birthday. This day couldn’t be more special. Coach Henk, we salute you for leading and pushing these ladies. It was not easy. Finally, your hard work is paying off. Beatrice and all our other hard working
athletes and their coaches who represented our country at the Olympics, you are all amazing.” There is consensus that the country needed this moraleboosting achievement: Mboma and Masilingi, who became household names overnight, managed to restore national pride and unity. Moreover, their sterling performance and the support of their dedicated coach left Namibians with a renewed sense of hope. Corporate Namibia, including FlyWestair, has come out in large numbers to rally behind the country’s golden girls and make sure that they have all the support they need to keep on pushing their performance to greater heights. Before the start of the historic 2020 Olympics – hosted one year later because of the global pandemic –Namibian sport hero Frank Fredericks expressed the sentiments of many of his fellow countrymen and countrywomen in a social media post: “In a few days the Olympic Games will start. All the best to all the athletes with their last preparations to achieve their dreams. The Games of 1992 forever changed my life. It was a wonderful feeling to be the flag bearer and also to be the first to win a medal for my beloved Namibia.” And that is exactly what Mboma, Masilingi and the other Namibian Olympians did. Especially the names of the fast two sprinters will be forever etched in the hearts and minds of Namibians. Given how young they are, it is believed that a long and bright future awaits them on the track. Cheers to them for Paris in 2024. Denver Kisting
Getty Images
53
