Namibia’s Z1 academy makes a mark in African Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

Namibia’s Z1 Academy Shines at Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Tournament in Cape Town

Namibia's Z1 Academy delivered an outstanding performance at the AJP Tour South Africa for the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu competition held in Cape Town last weekend. The team, consisting of nine athletes, namely - Joshua Obuya, Faan Vermaak, Gabriel Obuya, Sheena Idamukue, Adesha Cloete, Peter Garthoff, John-Marshall Klazen, Revano Cloete, Afra-Maya Schultz and Janro Lampretch competed at the highest level and returned home with an impressive medal haul. The team earned seven gold medals, one silver, and one bronze, securing a third-place finish in the African nations' standings.

Coach and founder of Z1 Academy, Nilson Coelho, was beaming with pride over his team's achievements. Speaking after the tournament, Coelho acknowledged the challenges faced in preparing for the event but praised his athletes for their hard work.

“I am extremely proud of the team. It was a hard six weeks of preparation, but the boys and girls were very resilient and determined. I did not expect such amazing results, especially considering that Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is still a developing sport in Namibia,” Coelho remarked.

Coelho emphasized that while the results were exceptional, there is still room for improvement. “There is much more we can achieve, and we will continue to train hard for the next tournament in Egypt,” he added, highlighting the academy's future aspirations.