On Wednesday, 10 March, MTC handed over a whopping sponsorship of N$ 250 000 to Agnes Samaria.

It was a proud moment in the Immanuel Shifidi Secondary School, with the Principal Ms Hertha Nashenda, the School Choir, Teachers and Student Council attending. After all, Agnes is one of Namibia‘s finest world-class athletes.

MTC sponsored N$ 250 000 to assist Agnes in her preparations for the Olympic Games in Athens (Greece) later this year. She will soon depart on a six-week trip to the United States of America, training under world-renowned trainer Margo Jennings, who also coaches the much decorated and celebrated Maria Mutola from Mozambique.

Agnes Samaria qualified for the Olympics with her best time of this year 2:03:00 minutes over 800 metres. MTC has supported Agnes since 2001.

During last year Agnes sustained a knee injury, however of late the injury has not reflected on her performance as she repeatedly ran under the Olympic qualifying time.

„I‘m positive about making a full recovery and I‘ve got the stamina but I‘m also working on the shorter sprint distances to increase my speed", she said.

The English/ Physical Education teacher at Immanuel Shifidi for the last five years told the learners of Grade 12 that 2003 was a „tearful year". But „if you have faith in life, you can succeed. Believe in yourself", she said before thanking MTC for the substantial support. Depending on her success at the Olympics she will opt for coaching young Namibian athletes. „ I really enjoy working with the youth and would like to stay active in that field."

Although she has encouraged some of her students to take up athletics she says, „It‘s really difficult to get youngsters to commit. Athletics is an individual sport that requires a stre-nuous training routine".

Samari added that it is difficult for someparents to be committed in assisting their children when it came to sports. It could be attributed to factors ranging from inadequate income to parents that cannot afford to take time off to transport their children to and from practice.

Agnes recently returned from the World Indoor Championships 2004 in Budapest (Hungary) where she competed in the ladies 800 m event.

After training in the USA, Agnes will spend a couple of weeks in Germany on a special training camp. During June/ July the European outdoor competition circuit is in full swing with Agnes Samaria competing in all major events preparing for the Olympics in August.

Said MTC‘s MD Bengt Strenge: „Agnes, congratulations with your Olympic qualifying time, all of us are extremely proud of you and holding thumbs for you. We know you can beat the two-minute-mark around the track and I am sure you will do Namibia proud in the Olympic Games." - And he added that Agnes had even inspired him to „think about my diet and that exerciseing is important in order to live a healthy life. Nowadays I am jogging at least three times a week and it feels very good."

Namibia will observe how Agnes Samaria is progressing on the road to Gold in Athens...