The Namibian soccer teams that will compete in the biennial Zone VI Youth Games scheduled for Lusaka, Zambia next week are raring to go.
The Namibia Football Association (NFA) last week released the Men’s Under 17 and Women’s Under 20 squads that will compete in the tournament.
“We have had some rigorous training sessions with the teams and with the dates drawing nearer, as an association we have finalized our teams. They have been hard at work under the watchful eyes of our coaches” said Barry Rukoro, the accounting officer of the NFA.
The men’s team is coached by Timo Tjongarero, assisted by Ricardo Mannetti and the team manager is Dawid Morgan.
The women’s team is coached by Jacqueline Shipanga with Eveline Noreses as her assistant and Jacqueline Gertze as the team manager.
The Men’s Under 17 team will take on Angola in their first match on December 7, before playing their second game the following day against Swaziland. Mauritius will be next up for Namibia on December 10, while they will conclude their group stage with a match against Lesotho on December 11.
The national women’s Under 20 team starts with a match against Zimbabwe on December 7, to be followed with matches against South Africa on December 9 and Zambia on December 11.
The football competitions at the Zone VI Games will be run by the Council of Southern African Football Associations (COSAFA), who will bring their expertise to the event.
The Men’s Under 17 tournament sees the 10 countries split into two groups of five teams. Group A consists of hosts Zambia, South Africa, Malawi, Botswana and Seychelles, while Group B sees Angola, Namibia, Swaziland, Mauritius and Lesotho meet.
The matches will be played at the Nkoloma Stadium and Zanaco Sunset Stadium in Lusaka and will kick off on December 7.
The top two teams in each pool advance to the semi-finals, to be played on December 14, with the third-place play-off scheduled for December 15 and the final set for December 16 at Zanaco Sunset Stadium.
The women’s Under 20 competition features Zambia, South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia and will be played on a single pool round-robin format.
In the semi-finals, the team that finishes first in the pool takes on the bottom side in the semi-finals, while the second p[laced team will meet the third placed team. The third-place play-off will be played on December 14, with the final scheduled for the Nkoloma Stadium on December 16.
The Namibian Under 17 Men’s team:
Donovan Gainub, Viril Namaseb, Simaneka Kabugu, Lesley Klim, Jafet Kubeb, Ananias Nakambuli, Risto Makuti, Jeff Kamberipa, Alcino Ndjavera, Branden Gaeseb, Wendell Rudath, Marcell Papama, Esko Kavela, Marco Somseb, Jerome Jagger, Clifford !Karigub, Brandon Goagoseb, Jackson Johannes, Uaseuako Katjiukua and Issensius Mutuku.
The Namibian Under 20 Women’s team:
Lorraine Jossob, Lovisa Mulunga, Anouska Kordom, Vitamue Kamahene, Albertha Dawes, Jennifer Uiras, Emma Naris, Memory Ngondo, Lena Noreses, Carmel Don, Thomalina Adams, Zenatha Coleman, Mellissa Matheus, Mellicent Hikuam, Bernadett Dennis, Juliana Blou, Mellissa Eises, Anna Shikuso, Daphny !Nowabes and Melanie Hikuam.