Namibia's national record holder over 400 metres, Tjipekapora Herunga, returned from Jamaica recently and has started training for next year's competitions. The 30-year-old Herunga was part of the Vision 2016 sport programme that allowed a group of Namibian athletes to be based in Jamaica for a while. The programme had been sponsored by the Directorate of Sport, under the then Ministry of Youth, National Service, Sport and Culture, since 2011. Under this programme the country's elite athletes participated in competitions such as the South African Yellow Pages series and endeavoured to prepare Namibian elite athletes for major events like the All Africa Games, World Championships and the Olympic games. However, none of the athletes in the programme made it to the last Olympic games in Brazil. In fact, soon after the 2017 Olympic Games, the Deputy Minister of Sport, Youth and National Services Agnes Tjongarero announced that the ministry was discontinuing its support to the programme, citing budget cuts. She also called for a review of the programme and the memorandum of understanding between Namibia and Jamaica. The withdrawal of government sponsorship left some athletes stranded as they were forced to abandon their studies and return home. Herunga's coach Letu Hamhola says that despite some setbacks they have come up with alternative plans for Herunga come next year. “She's back in the country preparing for next year, every dream always leads to the Olympics, of course we on the road to prepare to 2020, so we are working hard towards that. Next year we have the All Africa Games and there is also the World Championships so we are trying to get into shape for those competitions and what comes with it,” Hamhola said. Herunga's qualification for the 2016 Rio Olympics was shrouded in controversy as the athletics world governing body IAAF through the African Athletics Confederation endorsed her qualifications but the Namibia National Olympic Committee insisted at the time that Herunga did not qualify because her office did not get the confirmation from Athletics Namibia. Athletics Namibia, however, insisted that the information was forwarded on time. “It's no secret that at the moment she has gone through a difficult time after what happened to her in 2016, which was not easy, We take it for granted, but it's always a very big emotional knock for athletes but of course we just have to get back on track it doesn't help to blame anybody, so we are working towards that “ he added. Herunga is still the reigning 400 metres national record holder and Hamhola says for now they will just focus on the 400m, but for speed, she will also practice the 100 and 200 metres. The last event Herunga participated in was the Senior African Championship in Nigeria in August.