NBAA Press Release 2014

PRESS RELEASE OF THE N.B.A.A.

ZONE 6 BASS FEDERATION ANGLING TOURNAMENT –

MAGUGA DAM - SWAZILAND

P.O.Box 9680, Windhoek, Namibia

Tel: 0926461 – 379 025 Fax: (061) 379 000 Cell: 081 293 8916

Chairman: Neil Engelbrecht [email protected]

14. August 2014

PRESS RELEASE OF THE N.B.A.A.

ZONE 6 BASS FEDERATION ANGLING TOURNAMENT – MAGUGA DAM - SWAZILAND

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN The Namibian Bass Angling Association (NBAA) National Team will be taking part in the upcoming Zone 6 Bass Federation Angling Tournament competition, dated 8-12th September 2014. This year will be the seventh year in succession, that the NBAA has selected a national team and participated in the Zone 6 Bass Federation Tournament. The Zone 6 Bass Federation Tournament is hosted by a different country each year and this year the tournament is to be held on Maguga dam, in Swaziland. Located approximately 45 kilometres north of the Swaziland capital of Mbabane, Maguga dam is one of the most impressive dams in southern Africa and a known big-bass venue. Fed by the Komati River this dam is nestled in the beautiful mountains of the Hhohho Region in Swaziland. Completed in 2001, holding 332 million cubic metres of water and covering an area of 1042 hectares, Maguga dam is approximately twice the size of S. von Bach dam, near Okahandja. Maguga dam is known for it’s large specimens of largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides), with numerous fish over 4 kg’s having been caught. The current dam record, stands at 5.4 kg’s. The Zone 6 Bass Federation Tournament is currently the largest international bass fishing competition held in Africa, with now six (6) countries participating, namely: Namibia, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Swaziland, Zambia and its newest member, Mozambique, who will be representing their country with a full national team. Zimbabwe and South Africa, could arguably be rated as the unofficial numbers two and three bass fishing countries in the world, preceded only by the USA where bass angling is a highly paid, professional sport. In last years Zone 6 Bass Federation Tournament, held at Lake Chicamba in Mozambique, Namibia managed to beat South Africa and walked away with the bronze medal, behind winners Zimbabwe and second placed Zambia.

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Tel: 0926461 – 379 025 Fax: (061) 379 000 Cell: 081 293 8916


Each National Team of the upcoming Zone 6 Bass Federation Tournament in Swaziland comprises of twelve (12) anglers, one reserve and one manager. The Namibia National Bass Angling team will be represented by:

• Alec Williams • Jandré Engelbrecht • Lourens Delport • Jacques Marais • Anton Smit • Anton de Wit • Max Pieper • Neels van Tonder • Sonita Pienaar (Reserve) • Richard Grant • Thinus Williams • Neil Engelbrecht (Captain) • Jean-Pierre Judeel • Hendrik Pretorius (Team Manager) (See attached Team Photo)

All teams will arrive at Maguga Dam on Sunday the 7th September 2014. Monday and Tuesday have been set aside for all national teams to pre-fish this venue. This will enable the teams to get to know the waters and the fishing conditions a little better. The official competition then runs for the following three days. It has to be borne in mind that the Namibian team is taking 6 boats along on the 1735 km journey. Added to this, each two-man boat team will take approximately 400-500 kg of tackle, including a staggering 25-35 fishing rods per person. The Namibian team has prepared well for this event. Team members were involved with weekly national team meetings for team building, planning and strategy discussions. As much as possible information has been gathered on the venue, with the hosts obviously keeping the information spread to a minimum. Fortunately, Namibia has been on the venue in 2008 and 2009 respectively and we have good intelligence, gathered from then. The Namibian team will have to still use the two practice days to pick apart the venue, come up with a strategy and deduce tactics, of how to catch the heaviest bags each day, without overfishing an area, on one specific day. A sporting event of this nature, especially seen in the light of the logistical constraints of long travelling distances and the large amount of tackle and gear that has to be taken along, would not be possible without sponsors. The Namibian Bass Angling Association would therefore like to thank all sponsors who will have made this sporting event possible.

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Tel: 0926461 – 379 025 Fax: (061) 379 000 Cell: 081 293 8916


These sponsors to date are:

Bank Windhoek Ltd. Volkswagen Autohaus The Sign Shop Aucor Namibia Mr. Danie van der Merwe Hollard Namibia Nampharm Tyre Rack Gecko Car Rental Penny Pinchers Cymot Gobabis Diensstasie Old Mutual Namibia Computer Cable Namib-Re Varkenelli Customs and Kistler Fishing Rods Leojo Chemicals ASS Investments 199 Namibia Artificial Lure Angling Association Frametique Mr. G. van Wyk Mr. N. Engelbrecht

Those anglers that participate have new enthusiasm and direction. This will affect the sport of bass angling in Namibia as a whole, as experiences and techniques are shared with all bass anglers in Namibia. We sincerely thank our sponsors for their involvement with and support of the Namibia Bass Angling Association. The National Team wishes to also thank the Namibia Federation of Freshwater Anglers and the Namibia Sports Commission, for their administrative assistance provided which enables us to participate in the Zone 6 Bass Federation event as a National Team. The Namibian Team of 2014 comprises of a strong team with a wealth of experience and an abundance of individual skills. In the past few months these individual skills have been further honed and the team has been preparing to work together as a formidable unit. We have every confidence that this team has the ability to bring back top honours to Namibia, even though they will be fishing against world-class competition. Yours Sincirely, Neil Engelbrecht Captain of the Namibia Bass Angling National Team 081 – 128 2671

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Tel: 0926461 – 379 025 Fax: (061) 379 000 Cell: 081 293 8916


NAMIBIA BASS ANGLING TEAM 2014

NBAA NATIONAL TEAM MEMBERS (Back row from left to right: Alec Williams, Jandré Engelbrecht, Lourens Delport, Jacques Marais, Anton Smit, Anton de Wit, Max Pieper, Neels van Tonder, Sonita Pienaar (Reserve), Richard Grant, Thinus Williams) (Front row from left to right: Neil Engelbrecht (Captain), Jean-Pierre Judeel, Hendrik Pretorius (Team Manager))

Documents

NBAA Press Release 2014