Traditional sport continues at Onamatanga
26 June 2019 | Sports
Despite the drought, farmers made their horses available to participate in the annual Onamatanga traditional sporting event.
The event grooms the younger generation in horse racing and archery.
The 10th edition took place on 15 June.
The event attracted participation and spectators from various northern regions, who gathered in their hundreds at the Helvi Mpingana Kondombolo Horse Racing Sport Field.
Participants competed in four sport codes - archery, mahangu pounding, horse racing and skipping.
Auditor-general Junias Kandjeke is the co-sponsor of the horse racing event.
He wishes for the horse racing to become a professional event, so it accommodates participants from all over Namibia.
Due to the drought situation the horse racing participants decreased from 35 last year to 19 this year.
They competed in the 1 000m and 1 600m categories, without the usual 2 000m category.
Petrus Shihepo on Reverse scooped the Junias Etuna Kandjeke floating trophy, when he came first in both the 1 000m and 1 200m races.
In the 1 200m race he was followed home by Nampweya Ignatius on Shitambi and Amwaama Titus on Fox.
In the 1 000m race, Nakale Eliaser on Headman came second, while Ndali Shikongo on Weekend came third.
The category winners received N$650 each and a trophy for first place, while those who finished second received N$550 and the third-place finishers scooped N$450 each. The archery competition attracted 20 participants, compared to the 25 participants last year.
The winners were determined by the furthest shot and there was a junior and senior categorie.
In the senior category, Amwaama Petrus Nemulipo scooped the first prize and received N$200, followed by Samuel Nkene who received N$150, while Eino Shilongo came third and received N$100.
The junior category was won by Ignatius Amukwaya, followed by Pinehas Amwaama and Paulus Amwaama.
Organising committee member Johannes Shaanika, who is the principal of Onamatanga Primary School, told Ewi lyaNooli that the drought had impacted the event.
“The area is severely affected by drought and horses in this area are used to look after cattle. That was a contributing factor to the low turnout. Many are fearing that their horses that are already affected by drought might get weak in the process. Nevertheless, we manage to host the event successfully,” said Shaanika.
“With the young generation showing an interest in horse racing, the future is looking bright and I am happy that there is the potential that the sport might turn professional.”
ILENI NANDJATO
The event grooms the younger generation in horse racing and archery.
The 10th edition took place on 15 June.
The event attracted participation and spectators from various northern regions, who gathered in their hundreds at the Helvi Mpingana Kondombolo Horse Racing Sport Field.
Participants competed in four sport codes - archery, mahangu pounding, horse racing and skipping.
Auditor-general Junias Kandjeke is the co-sponsor of the horse racing event.
He wishes for the horse racing to become a professional event, so it accommodates participants from all over Namibia.
Due to the drought situation the horse racing participants decreased from 35 last year to 19 this year.
They competed in the 1 000m and 1 600m categories, without the usual 2 000m category.
Petrus Shihepo on Reverse scooped the Junias Etuna Kandjeke floating trophy, when he came first in both the 1 000m and 1 200m races.
In the 1 200m race he was followed home by Nampweya Ignatius on Shitambi and Amwaama Titus on Fox.
In the 1 000m race, Nakale Eliaser on Headman came second, while Ndali Shikongo on Weekend came third.
The category winners received N$650 each and a trophy for first place, while those who finished second received N$550 and the third-place finishers scooped N$450 each. The archery competition attracted 20 participants, compared to the 25 participants last year.
The winners were determined by the furthest shot and there was a junior and senior categorie.
In the senior category, Amwaama Petrus Nemulipo scooped the first prize and received N$200, followed by Samuel Nkene who received N$150, while Eino Shilongo came third and received N$100.
The junior category was won by Ignatius Amukwaya, followed by Pinehas Amwaama and Paulus Amwaama.
Organising committee member Johannes Shaanika, who is the principal of Onamatanga Primary School, told Ewi lyaNooli that the drought had impacted the event.
“The area is severely affected by drought and horses in this area are used to look after cattle. That was a contributing factor to the low turnout. Many are fearing that their horses that are already affected by drought might get weak in the process. Nevertheless, we manage to host the event successfully,” said Shaanika.
“With the young generation showing an interest in horse racing, the future is looking bright and I am happy that there is the potential that the sport might turn professional.”
ILENI NANDJATO
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