A final 12-member Namibian netball team has been selected to participate in two upcoming international tournaments following a training camp in Windhoek this week. More than 130 players from eight regions throughout Namibia attended national trials last weekend, after which a squad of 24 players was selected.
This squad has now been trimmed down to the final 12 players who will participate in the COSANA Championships in Durban, South Africa from 18-26 September, while an extra player will join the team for the Inter-Nations Tournament in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania from 28 September to 3 October.
The trials were organised by the National Organising Committee (NOC) which was tasked by the Ministry of Sport to revise the constitution of the All Nambia Netball Association and to facilitate Namibia’s return to international competition following an absence of more than 12 years.
On Wednesday afternoon the team paid a courtesy call to Minister of Sport Reverend Willem Konjore, where the chairman of the NOC, Abner Xoagub briefed the Minister on progress made by the NOC.
“Today represents a milestone in what the NOC has achieved. We were given directives by the Ministry to revise the constitution to bring it in line with the latest international developments, to strengthen the regional structures of netball in Namibia and to coordinate the establishment of a national team to be able to participate regionally and internationally. We have completed the final task and this team will now leave for Durban to participate in the COSANA tournament,” he said.
Xoagub said a selection committee had selected Namibia’s best available team, while the players were all versatile and capable of playing in various positions.
“These tournaments will pave the way for us to get an international ranking and to participate in World Cup qualifying tournaments,” he added.
Xoagub thanked the Namibian government for its support, saying that they had invested more than N$700 000 to facilitate Namibia’s participation in the two competitions, while the total investment, including other sponsors amounted to about N$1 million.
“This investment shows that our government is serious about sport,” he said.
Minister Konjore said he was extremely happy that Namibia would be participating internationally again after a lengthy absence and congratulated the NOC on selecting the team on very short notice. He called on the players to be good ambassadors for their country.
“You are Namibian ambassadors in your own right in the netball arena, on and off the field. I want you to come back as winners, not necessarily only with medals, but also through the testimony of others that Namibia is a team of winners,” he said.
The Head of Delegation is Monica Bohitile, while the team manager is Amanda de Jager and the team medic Donata Gawanas. The head coach is Esme Isaacs and the assistant coach is Abraham Nondjigwa and the two umpires accompanying the team are Anita Ndjaranguru and Emsie Esterhuizen.
The Namibian team is as follows:
Jatinda Kambatuku – Khomas (captain)
Gisella Katjingisiua - Khomas
Anna-Marie Katjipati - Khomas
Selma Shikukumwa - Kavango
Eveline Sikoka - Kavango
Ivonne Kotjipati - Khomas
Uauanisa Karianuua - Khomas
Anna Kulaumoe Kaspar - Oshana
Muua Tjipetekera - Khomas
Ehrenfriede Uahongora - Khomas
Ester Uugwanga - Karas
Mechihilde Mupiri – Kavango
Samueline Kamujaha of Khomas is still receiving medical treatment and will join the team for the Tanzania tournament.