Name : Turky Tiisa Ndashiiva
Date of Birth : 9 October
Place of Birth : Windhoek
Current Position: Vice Chairperson
Organization : Namibia Sports Commission
Position : Former Chairperson
Club : Tigers Sport Club
You currently sit on the Namibia Sports Commission as a Vice Chairperson, which means you have been involved in sports to get there. How did it all start?
Well, I started my sport career at primary school. I went to Namutoni Primary school and started there as a netball player. I then went on to Shifidi Secondary School and AME Private School, where I continued to play. In 1994, I joined African Blizzards Sports Club that was based in Donkerhoek, Katutura. The club only had a football team, and I was given the responsibility to register a netball team with Khomas Region Netball. The team had no netball management or coach and I was assigned to be responsible for the administration and management together with Ms Martha Uumati, with the assistance of Mr Salomo Nuukushu. The team played for two seasons, but due to financial challenges, it was dissolved and this is when we joined Tigers Netball.
You mentioned how you were thrown in the deep end at African Blizzards, did this lead to you getting involved in administration and how has it been.
You see, I joined Tigers as a club secretary, during the leadership of Mr Akwenye, I then stayed on during the tenure of the Late Mr Nepela and finally with the integration of Mr Vaino Nghipondoka.
I went on to serve the club as chairperson from 2015 to 2022 (I had to take a break because of my studies and Mr. Dinno Balloti took over as Chairman). We handed over the baton to the new generation on 19 November 2022.
If somebody was to ask you, why are you involved in sports? What would you tell them?
We tend to be attracted to things we are naturally good at. I played Netball since my primary school years because I loved being around people. I always availed myself to do the extra. I have always been a busy child, playing in the street with other kids, running after the Netball players when they walked the streets to play games. I was inspired by the soccer team that played at Katutura (Now Sam Nujoma) Stadium. The vibes, cheers of the whole community after their wins.
The late Donbald Akumani Shipanga was my star. And it turns out that his sister, Martina Tumiki Shipanga was the best centre player I loved to emulate.
You mentioned people you considered to be your stars as you grew up. Are there specific role models that help shape who you are?
Personally, my mom and late father are my role models. They believed in me since I was young. They motivated me to do the best I could and supported me in all aspect of life. They instilled discipline in me from a very young age. The support they provided me shaped me into the person I am today. Ms Garises, our primary school teacher, and coach inspired me to continue with netball even though I was tiny, as I had speed on court. Ms Tumiki Shipanga inspired me to continue playing mid-court, I loved how she controlled their games.
What sparked your interest in sport?
I used to love seeing the Tigers players walking the streets of Katutura and I told myself that I will one day also wear that uniform and play for the mighty Team of Tigers.
Do you have moments that you consider to have been your proudest in sports?
Definitely as a sports person, we all have those moments that we cherish. My proudest moments were three-fold, firstly the Khomas Regional Tour to Birmingham, England. Secondly, the 2015/16 Tigers League winners under my leadership. This was a year that the Exco worked very hard. We had pre-meetings with the Technical Team. We had Team meetings with players, we had team meetings with our sponsors. It was the year we ate and slept football.
Lastly, the Netball Namibia Premier League with the MTC Sponsorship in 2021. The NN Exco worked very hard to secure the Sponsorship and run the League.
So you have achieved at national level, are there other highs in your career?
Oh yes, this is when I represented Netball Namibia at the 2018 Netball World Cup in Liverpool, England, at the Annual General Assembly. What made it special for me is that due to a lack of funding, I had to use my own funds to attend the meeting and watch the games.
Spending your own money was not an issue for you travel to England, but have you had any lows in sports? And how did you take the punch?
The lowest point was when I was not elected during the Khomas Regional executive in 2018 at the AGM, even though prior commitments from teams. This was also a blessing in disguise as the same year I was nominated as Treasurer of Netball Namibia.
I believe everything happen for a reason and that God had other plans for me. Exiting the Khomas Region executive committee, although painful, opened the door to the higher office. I dedicated my time to my Sport
Club and Netball Namibia Offices.
Sports is about the passion, do you have any setbacks or failures? And how have you dealt with it?
Setbacks and failure help us to see the true intentions of those around us. I am grateful to have had setbacks as I would not have had the opportunity to serve the higher offices. Through Tigers Sport Club and Netball Namibia my potential evolved through the years, I gained more confidence and matured into the person I am today.
Any challenges?
I have had my share of challenges, over the years between 2017 – 2021 while serving my Club and country, I was also an employee, a student, a mother and a wife. I had to juggle all these responsibilities concurrently. It was not easy, but I managed with the help of my colleagues, family, friends and especially my Team members in both committees (Tigers Sport Club and Netball Namibia Exco’s).
Has sports contributed in any way to how you have evolved as a person?
I believe I have evolved from being a Katutura born individual to a Namibian daughter of the soil, ready to serve, and thus my current position as a Vice Chairperson on the Namibia Sport Commission. I worked without being paid and being a committed person, I reaped the fruits of that hard work.
Have you learned anything through this journey?
I learned that whatever small contributions you give today, you will be rewarded tomorrow. I was lucky to have worked with people who put others first than their own agendas. These were the people who moulded me, supported me, fought me, and excelled me.
What advice would you give to others?
My advice to others is to be true to yourself and others. Always look for the good in others and be willing to support others.
How do you balance between your career and personal life?
Being a woman, balance is in our nature. Only planning and organizing your schedule to fit your goal is required to achieve this.
What kind of support system, if any, has been instrumental in your success?
My mom and daughter are my number 1 support. Then family (Hubby), siblings and friends. I was lucky to have my employers support me. I never had issues to attend sport functions as my employers were supportive.
Do you think sports is important?
Sports is an important part of life and provide many health benefits. Regular physical activity can reduce stress, improve mental health, and boost self-confidence.
Who were some of your mentors or sources of inspiration?
Mr Lukas Shilunga Nanyemba mentored me after he (and other Exco members) forced me to become the Chairperson on Tigers Sport Club. They were all instrumental in my development as a leader, we had been together in the leadership of the Club for more than 15 years.
If you were forced into a position of leadership, what has kept you motivated?
The fact that I am making a positive contribution in someone else life motivate me.
Overall, people enjoy watching sports because it provides a sense of entertainment, competition and camaraderie. It also serves as an escape from the everyday stress of life.Challenges will always be present, right now the lack of Sport Facilities in the country is worrisome. I am sure that we will overcome that aspect, we just need to work together with all stakeholders.
How has your involvement in this sport affected your life?
Sport has had a positive impact and I am very grateful to my younger self to have had passion in Sport.
What is your aspirations for the future?
My aspiration is to one day make a difference in our Sport Industry. I want to be remembered as that one person who made an impact to the Sport in Namibia.
What’s your advice to any person starting off in sports?
Work hard, never give up as tomorrow is another day.
If you could go back in time, is there anything you would do differently in your career or life path?
I look back and see that I have lived my values and interest. Sport have shaped my personality as it helped me to focus on my life plans, not just in Sport but professionally as well.
After thinking about it, I would have loved not to trust too much, but through that I learned who my true friends are. I am so lucky to have met and made friends who became family. I wouldn’t change that, not in a 100 million years. I learned that you can’t please everyone in life and to focus on your life’s journey.
