Ronaldo scores in sixth World Cup as Portugal defeats Uzbekistan 5-0
via The Namibian3 min read
Cristiano Ronaldo made history by becoming the first player to score in six World Cup campaigns, netting twice in Portugal's 5-0 victory over Uzbekistan. The win in Houston puts Portugal on the verge of the knockout rounds. Ronaldo's first goal came after six minutes, and he added a second with a cool finish before halftime, bringing his total to 10 World Cup goals, surpassing Eusebio. Following what he described as a "dark week," Ronaldo expressed his relief and dedication to the national team's objectives. Despite recent criticism regarding his form, coach Roberto Martinez has maintained his support for the captain. Nuno Mendes scored Portugal's second goal, and an own goal from Abduvohid Nematov made it 4-0. Substitute Rafael Leao scored the fifth goal in the 87th minute. Portugal's next match is against Colombia.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by The Namibian.
The Micro Lenders Association MLA has refuted claims that it is responsible for Namibia's debt crisis, attributing the issue to wider socio-economic pressures, weak savings, and multiple credit sources. In a letter to the parliamentary standing committee on economics, the MLA stated that high debt levels stem from economic pressures on individuals, not predatory lending. This comes as the committee investigates the protection of civil servants from microlenders. Namibian households owe N$78 billion in debt, with nearly 10% owed to microlenders, according to December 2025 data from the Namibia Financial Institutions Supervisory Authority Namfisa. The MLA's lawyer, Charles Visser, argued that this percentage is too low to be the primary cause of civil servant debt, pointing instead to structural challenges like high unemployment and inequality. While Namfisa does not track borrower employment status, it believes civil servants are a significant client base due to their stable incomes. The MLA acknowledged that the system allowing direct salary deductions for loan payments, created by the government to broaden financial access, has issues and requires careful regulation, though only 12% of 2025 term loans used these codes, primarily by banks. The Economic and Social Justice Trust, however, contends that debt is a survival mechanism for many Namibians struggling with inadequate incomes, with 55% earning N$5,000 or less monthly. They advocate for stronger action against illegal le
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