Mbahu heads to Hungary for elite coaching course
Namibian basketball coach Johannes Shigwedha Mbahu is set to further his coaching education after being selected for the International Coaching Course (ICC) 2026 in Budapest, Hungary. Mbahu will attend the eight-week programme hosted by the Hungarian University of Sports Science (HUSS) from 7 October to 26 November. The programme is organised in cooperation with the... The post Mbahu heads to Hungary for elite coaching course appeared first on New Era.
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Namibian basketball coach Johannes Shigwedha Mbahu is set to further his coaching education after being selected for the International Coaching Course (ICC) 2026 in Budapest, Hungary.
Mbahu will attend the eight-week programme hosted by the Hungarian University of Sports Science (HUSS) from 7 October to 26 November. The programme is organised in cooperation with the Namibia National Olympic Committee and the International Olympic Committee, with support from Olympic Solidarity.
Speaking ahead of his departure, Mbahu said the scholarship represents an important step in his coaching career and an opportunity to gain knowledge that can contribute to the development of Namibian sport.
“Receiving this Olympic Solidarity scholarship is a huge honor. It validates years of dedication and gives me the credibility and world-class knowledge needed to take my coaching from a local level to international standards,” he said.
Mbahu said his primary objective during the programme is to gain exposure to modern sports science and high-performance training methods that can be applied locally.
“I’m here to master modern sports science and high-performance training methods so I can build structured, long-term athletic development pathways for Namibian sports,” he said.
He identified the lack of standardised grassroots talent pathways, limited sports science infrastructure and insufficient opportunities for continuous coach education as some of the challenges facing Namibian sport.
Mbahu said his experience in Budapest would allow him to compare Namibia’s current methods with international practices before returning home to share the knowledge gained.
“When I return, I plan to run training workshops for local federations and school coaches while implementing evidence-based sports science and recovery strategies into our athletes’ daily routines,” he said.
Speaking at the send-off press conference, Namibia Basketball Federation (NBF) secretary-general Titus Mwahafa described Mbahu’s selection as an important development for Namibian basketball.
He said the opportunity would have benefits beyond Mbahu’s individual development, particularly through the knowledge he is expected to bring back and share with coaches and athletes.
“This investment in Coach Mbahu is an investment in the future of basketball in Namibia. The expertise and global perspective he brings back from HUSS will directly enhance our national coaching framework, elevate player development, and inspire the next generation of athletes across our regional associations,” he said.
Mbahu said success would ultimately be measured by how effectively he applies the knowledge gained after returning to Namibia.
“Success on November 26 isn’t just about walking away with a certificate, it is about returning home with an actionable blueprint that produces measurable improvements in our athletes’ performance,” he said.
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