Namibia’s tennis talent is receiving structured support, with selected players attending a Podium Performance Programme briefing designed to strengthen high-performance sport in the country.

The briefing, hosted by the Namibia Podium Performance Programme at the tennis courts in Windhoek, brought together eight selected tennis players identified from a pool of 117 athletes across 13 sporting codes. The initiative, led by the Namibia Sports Commission, is part of a long-term plan to prepare athletes for the Olympic Games while improving participation in international competitions.

Chief Administrator of the Namibia Sports Commission, Freddy Mwiya, noted that the programme supports athletes with both mental and technical preparation, covering tournament fees and performance readiness.

"You are being prepared for major international games," Mwiya stated. "When the government ploughs into this, please do not take it as a privilege; you need to know that you are very fortunate to be among the people that the government is going to support. However, we need to ensure that your performance is up to international standards. On and off the field, you must become an example to others. That is why we need to take you to classes and workshops to teach you about mental preparedness and what is required of a top elite athlete."

Vice President of the Namibia Tennis Association, Vekondja Kuzee, welcomed the initiative, emphasizing that consistent support systems are vital for achieving international results.

"As an association, it is very pleasing to be able to align our national objectives with our association's ambitions, which is to really enable our athletes to be the best that they can be," Kuzee explained. "As soon as we do that, we expect results to follow so that we can reap the fruits of their hard work."

One of the selected athletes, Joanivia Bezuidenhout, highlighted the importance of the programme for her personal development.

"I am so grateful for this opportunity because I feel like, to improve in this sport, you really need exposure internationally and you have to play a lot of tournaments, which is expensive," Bezuidenhout said. "The fact that the Namibian government decided to put all the top athletes together and extend a helping hand is really generous."

Fellow player Ruben Yssel also welcomed the support and encouraged corporate engagement to further develop tennis in Namibia.

"I think it would be great if the corporates also sponsored us and provided support alongside the government; if we work hand in hand, I think we would go far," Yssel noted. "I am very grateful, and I am hoping to give back to the programme for the support they are giving us."

As the programme continues, it is expected to advance athlete development, strengthen sporting structures, and improve Namibia's performance on the international stage.