The 1st tournament of the season will be held, as announced, on 17 and 18 March 2007 in Henties Bay. It will be a knock-out competition without a plate section (i.e. the “new” format). This tournament is the qualifying tournament for the All Africa Games (AAG) team, to participate in Algeria during July. Algiers is at sea level, thus the tournament and subsequent team practices will also be at sea level. Only players participating in this event (or having their written apologies approved by the BUN President beforehand) will be considered for selection into the AAG team. All National Selectors are called upon to attend this event. The team will be announced and submitted to the Namibian Sports Commission (NSC) before 30 March 2007.
The tournament will start Saturday morning, 17 March 2007, at 08:00 at the Community Hall (behind the Library in town centre) and will continue until Sunday, 18 March 2007. Entries have to be sent to kochle@standardbank.com.na by 14 March 2007, 14:00.
Entry fees will be N$25 per senior player per event (singles, doubles, mixed doubles) or N$50 if you enter all three events. Juniors (under 18) and bona fide students will pay N$15 per event or N$30 for all three events. Plastic shuttles shall be used.
You are responsible for your own accommodation. However, those willing to bring tents and sleeping bags, cheap of free accommodation will be available. You can also contact Eddie Ward at eward@mtc.com.na in this regard. Henties Bay club will be responsible for the refreshments/food/beverages.
The AAG team will be in camp in Henties Bay from 27 to 29 April 2007, to be coached by a BWF (Badminton World Federation)-accredited coach, courtesy of the BCA (Badminton Confederations of Africa). The NSC has granted provisional approval to BUN to become part of the Namibian AAG team to Algiers, pending the availability of funds. Three ladies and three men will be selected. National Colours will be awarded to AAG team members, to be acquired at own expense. A NSC-appointed physio-therapist and BUN official will accompany the team.
2. Other tournaments
In response to complaints lodged against the proposed year programme, the Namibian Open and Annual General Meeting to be held in Oranjemund will be moved to 19-21 October 2006. Please note! BUN will try to get financial and technical assistance to upgrade the Namibian Open to international level in this year, but definitely in 2008, in which case the tournament will be put on the BCA year programme. We trust that the local Club will rise to this challenge!
The rest of the tournaments will be held as indicated, except for the Junior tournaments.
3. Junior (under 18) tournaments
There will only be one Junior tournament this year, to be held in Omaruru on 27-29 April.
However, the BWF (Badminton World Federation)-accredited coach, courtesy of the BCA (Badminton Confederations of Africa), will be available to train Juniors in Oranjemund on 9 and 10 June 2007 and Oranjemund Club members until 14 June 2007. Similarly, the coach will be available to train Juniors in Windhoek on 8 and 9 September 2007 and Windhoek South Club members until 13 September 2007. The Clubs concerned are requested to welcome any registered BUN players to these coaching events. Please start planning for these events, e.g. availability of facilities, equipment and accom-modation, full board and local transport for the visiting coach.
4. National Coach
The Management Committee approved three candidates for this position. After principal availability and written commitment has been obtained from every candidate, one will be selected by the Management Committee to serve as National Coach (NC) on contract. The NC will attend a fully-sponsored, high-level Coaches Course presented by the BCA in Mauritius, 14-19 May 2007, with a refresher course due in 2009. It will be expected of the NC to, amongst other regular duties, coach all Namibian teams after May, e.g. SACD, Veterans and Melville teams.
5. Membership fees
Seeing the increased value that BUN members get for their money, the Management Committee decided to increase club membership fees to N$750 per year.
In remote areas that do not have a badminton club, individual players can register directly with BUN for an annual fee of N$100. In the case of Junior players (under 18), the fee is N$50/year and player. Bona fide students can also join at an annual fee of N$50/player if they cannot join an existing club.
In case a Junior Club is registered, the annual fee is N$500.
Membership fees are payable before 15 April 2007. That implies that participation at the Henties Bay tournament is still on last season’s account. The BUN account is currently in transito which is the reason for the delay. Please make cheques out to the “Badminton Union of Namibia” and bring them to Henties Bay, or wait until the Treasure, Melanie Campbell, at melmcncam@yahoo.co.uk , forwards the new banking details, for electronic/Internet deposits.
6. Registration with the NSC
BUN has obtained provisional registration status with the NSC, based on an excellent submission. Their Commissioners will decide soon whether to award BUN an A, B or C grade, which will determine the priority and support level of the sports code. We trust that all BUN members will pull in the same direction, to obtain the highest possible grading!
Peruse the NSC’s website-to-be to obtain the most recent information on BUN and its events.