Young Kapere looking forward to 2022
• BY STAFF REPORTER
IN a year that saw most sportsmen and women hit hard by the lack of competition due to Covid-19, 2021 has left many athletes in particular bright young athletes such as Dolphine Kapere from competing in many events.
The 16-year-old Kapere is undoubtedly one of the country’s brightest young athletes in the 800m and 400m events and is certain to be one to watch out for in the near future and, with the support of her coach Krisantus Kaveto, Kapere could just find herself rubbing shoulders with top athletes at major international events.
Kapere is also not shying away from the challenges ahead and is determined to make her mark in a field that boasts some of the world’s top athletes.
In 2019, Kapere won a gold medal in the U-13 girls 800m at the youth national championships in Windhoek.
At the same event, 200m Olympic silver medalist Christine Mboma won herself a gold medal in the 800m in the girls U-17.
Kapere’s coach has said that Covid-19 had disrupted the sprinter’s chances of showcasing her talent in the track and field events.
Kaveto also said that the youngster is ready to compete against the best athletes in the world if given that opportunity and that she is aiming to win gold medals come next year.
“This year Kapere was ready to compete at any athletic game, but due to Covid-19 she only took part in one event that was organised by Athletics Namibia (the U-17 inter-schools athletics and relay competition that took place in Windhoek on October 9).
“She helped her school (Ndiyona Combined School) win a silver medal in the 4×400m girls relay.
Kapere has been training hard and she is ready to run at any athletic event at school, regional or national level. She is aiming high and ready to win gold medals next year,” said Kaveto.
Kaveto added that the promising runner is not afraid to compete against the best athletes in her discipline be it locally or abroad, just like how Kapere’s idol, Mboma showed the world this year.
“Kapere is ready to go abroad to compete with the best runners from different countries. Her target is to run and qualify to any regional event and the Olympic Games.
“She wants to change her lifestyle through sport, being an example to other youth through sport and to represent the country just like how Mboma did.”
Kapere’s father Norberth Kapere said that his daughter has what it takes to become the next Mboma if well trained.
Norberth is a labourer at Nyangana Catholic Hospital in the Kavango-East region and is the sole breadwinner for his child.
“I have been with my daughter since day one. Dolphine has been staying with me. I have always been responsible for her school fees. She is definitely the next Mboma if well coached.
She is better at 800m than 400m because she is a slow starter in the 400m,” the proud father said.