Namibia has secured full membership of the International Padel Federation (FIP), opening international competition opportunities for local players and creating new prospects for corporate partnerships in the growing sport. The Namibia Padel Federation (NPF) was admitted during the FIP’s 36th General Assembly, held on 12 October at the Spanish Olympic Committee headquarters in Madrid, Spain, alongside Afghanistan, Angola, Bahamas, Barbados, Belarus, Colombia, Libya, Mauritius, Peru, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Uzbekistan and Zambia. The NPF delegation comprised secretary general Lilly Mwiya, vice-president Setson Ngishindimbwa and chief executive officer Dickson Vambe.
“Namibia has taken its seat at the table of world padel. This is a new and exciting chapter for Namibian sport. Our players now have a clear road from a court in Windhoek, Swakopmund or Walvis Bay to the world rankings, and Namibia now has a voice in how this sport grows globally,” Vambe said.
Membership gives Namibia representation within the sport’s international governing structure and provides access to international competitions, world rankings and development programmes for players, coaches and referees.
These include the FIP Promises junior tour, Cupra FIP Tour, FIP Africa Padel Cup and international coaching and refereeing education, creating opportunities to strengthen the sport from grassroots level to elite competition.
Vambe said membership would help establish recognised development pathways for Namibian players and officials.
“FIP membership gives Namibia a platform to showcase its talent to the world. It opens doors that were closed to us until now: international competition and world rankings for our juniors, structured events and pathways for our amateur players, and FIP education and certification for our coaches and officials,” he said.
Beyond competition, the federation is seeking corporate partners to support its national teams, junior development, community programmes and the hosting of Namibia’s first FIP-sanctioned tournament. Other opportunities include partnerships supporting women’s, school and para padel initiatives.
Vambe said companies joining at this early stage could help shape the sport’s development nationally while gaining opportunities to associate their brands with its growth.
The federation hopes the international recognition will accelerate padel’s development in Namibia and strengthen pathways for local talent to compete on the global stage.
-hnalupe@nepc.com.na
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