A sport that combines swimming, teamwork, and intense endurance is gradually returning to Namibia’s sporting landscape through a renewed grassroots push.

Waterpolo, which was recently revived after a 25-year hiatus, is now facing the challenge of attracting more players and increasing participation across different communities in the country. The initiative aims to strengthen the foundation of aquatic sports by introducing learners to the game, helping them build fitness, discipline, and a strong sense of teamwork from a young age.

Namibia National Olympic Committee (NNOC) President, Dr. Ndeulipula Hamutumwa, explained that the key to growing the sport lies in grassroots mobilization and utilizing existing school infrastructure."Together with the National School Sport Union, we should foster a collaborative effort to mobilize schools to utilize swimming pools and introduce learners to waterpolo," Hamutumwa noted. "The more schools are introduced to the sport, the more diversity we will see from different backgrounds of athletes who will utilize the pool and take advantage of the new discipline within swimming."

Namibia Aquatic Sports Federation (NASFED) President, Riaan Steyn, echoed these sentiments, highlighting that diversifying the country's aquatic disciplines is vital for long-term athletic development. He identified a historical gap where swimming was the only major aquatic sport receiving consistent attention.

"Swimming was the only discipline that was promoted," Steyn explained. "Now we have a full season in open water swimming, nationals in open water swimming, and our waterpolo is growing. We've also started with diving at Olympia, although that has stagnated a bit, but we are trying to push it again this year."

The revival has also caught the attention of passionate parents who see the sport as a positive pathway for youth development.

Parent Anna Shiimi urged more families to get involved, emphasizing both the developmental benefits and the accessibility of the sport. "To my fellow parents, we need to sign up our kids for this loving sport. We also need to create healthy habits within our families. It's an amazing sport and a loving community. People should come in numbers. It's affordable—you just pay the annual fee and that's it."

Despite the enthusiasm from administrators and parents, active players like Renzo Risser and Lillie Kobbel acknowledge that building the player base remains an uphill battle. They noted that attracting participants is uniquely difficult, as many youth who are comfortable with casual swimming are often hesitant to transition into the rigorous, team-oriented demands of competitive waterpolo.

Nevertheless, the ongoing efforts to integrate the sport into schools continue to provide young athletes with a brand-new platform to develop their abilities, ultimately contributing to the long-term growth and diversity of Namibian sports.