Namibia takes on South Africa’s national women’s side, Banyana Banyana in a friendly soccer match at the Khomasdal Stadium on Saturday.
South Africa requested the match and will be sending their full strength side in preparation for the African Women’s Cup of Nations finals in Equatorial Guinea later this year.
According to Jacky Gertze of the NFA’s Women’s Desk, Namibia’s Brave Gladiators will largely consist of Under 20 players, to help prepare them for the SADC Zone 6 Youth Games which take place in Potchefstroom, South Africa in December.
Gertze said they would add a few senior players, but expected Namibia’s U20 players to give a good account of themselves.
“I know we will provide good competition for Banyana Banyana. They will send a full strength team and although we might miss the experience of some senior players, we will have no excuses,” she said.
A Namibian squad of 22 players has been training for the encounter under the watchful eye of national coach Max Johnson and assistant coach Jacky Shipanga.
Most of the players are members of the national U20 team, while some players of the U17 national side have also been called up. Five senior national players have been added to the squad, namely defenders Mangulukeni Hamata and Novata Paulus; midfielder Stella Williams; and strikers Salome Iyambo and Faustina Amutenya.
Two more players will be dropped before the final squad of 18 is announced and Gertze indicated that it would be two senior players. The Rehoboth Queens midfielder Juliana Skrywer is a late withdrawal after picking up an injury in last Sunday’s National Championships final against Okahandja Beauties.
Some of the U17 players who have been called up include Stacy Naris, Susanna Eises and Marele Polster.
The match will start at 16h00 at the Khomasdal Stadium on Saturday, October 4. The friendly international will be followed by a friendly between the national Under 17 boys’ team and Orlando Pirates U17, who recently won the Khomas U17 title. The entrance fee is N$10 per person.
The Brave Gladiators team is as follows:
Goalkeepers:
Bonitha Eixas, Magda Swartbooi.
Defenders:
Queen Manga, Rejoice Kasaona, Mangulukeni Hamata, Stacy Naris, Susanna Eises, Novata Paulus, Mariana Gaebusi.
Midfielders:
Stella Williams, Leandri Lucas, Shirley Cloete, Emmerencia Awises, Mary Jacobs, Bianca Fredericks, Charmaine Swartbooi.
Strikers:
Rauchanda Platt, Marele Polster, Salome Iyambo, Faustina Amutenya, Maggie Paulus.