Namibia’s six-member team that will participate in the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF) World Championships from Feb. 10 to 18 in Belgrade, Serbia is physically and mentally geared up for the event.
Namibia’s Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) team ranked 33rd out of 77 countries and regions in the senior ranking and third on the continent will dispatch an all-male squad to the championships.
The fighters include Veja Hinda, Geraldo Bok, Ronaldo Feris, Damian Muller, Arno Jacobs and Stefan Gilge.
“Training for the squad started earlier December last year,” team manager Natascha De Sousa told Xinhua, adding that the team has been in camp for 10 weeks.
“They have embarked on various trainings that include group and one on one sessions with the head coach, Carlos de Sousa. The team has 5-hour physical training a day and also engages in yoga and meditation in between as mental preparation, which is a very big aspect in MMA,” she added.
According to De Sousa, the most difficult challenge they have been going through is mainly the financial aspect, despite receiving some support from the country’s Sports Commission.
“MMA is still in its infancy in Namibia and sponsorship is not easily available hence we have been working hard to introduce and popularize the sport in the country,” she said.
De Sousa said that the team has the potential to scoop some silverware, in particular, Veja Hinda who is the current 2022 African champion.
The championships in Serbia are set to attract over 550 athletes from 63 countries and regions in both junior and senior categories.
