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[QUOTE="Munyaradzi Mafaro, post: 39261, member: 636"]
Sanet Steenkamp spoke to sports leaders across southern Africa last Saturday. The Namibian education minister addressed officials at the Regional Annual Sports Awards ceremony. The event took place in Harare, Zimbabwe, for the seventh time. Steenkamp leads the African Union Sports Council Region 5 Council of Ministers. She thanked Zimbabwe for hosting such a great event.

Southern African countries need to spend more money on training athletes. Steenkamp wants governments to create better programs for sports development. She believes countries should stop giving short-term help to athletes. Long-term training programs will help create world-class competitors. These programs should focus on building character and lasting success.

Steenkamp praised Kirsty Coventry from Zimbabwe for her recent achievement. Coventry became the first African woman to lead the International Olympic Committee and the first woman from Africa to hold this important position. Steenkamp called Coventry an example of excellence for all athletes and asked Her to keep supporting Region 5 sports development efforts.

All athletes nominated for awards deserve recognition for their hard work. Steenkamp told them they had already won just by reaching this point. Namibia will host the Region 5 Youth Games during July. She invited everyone to attend with the same excitement they showed at the awards ceremony. The games will bring together young athletes from across the region.
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