Baby Desert Jewels ready to compete

Netball Namibia will compete in the Africa World Cup under-21 qualifiers in Pretoria from Sunday until 24 March, with the ambitious goal to qualify for the Netball World Youth Cup that will take place in Gibraltar next year.

The team is captained by Elizabeth Besser, who helped UNAM Jaguars qualify for the MTC Namibia Premier League.

The youthful side declared themselves eager and ready to not just participate but compete at the qualifiers.

In a media interview Besser said: “I believe in the team. We’ve prepared super well, mentally and physically. In all aspects we are ready, Namibia will bring the heat!”

The president of Netball Namibia, Rebekka /Gôagoses, shared her anticipated views for the future of the under-21 national netball team.

“The junior teams are often neglected; they don’t get the opportunity to showcase their skills and they are the future Desert Jewels, that is why we named them the Baby Jewels for this tournament.

“Any national team should ideally be kept busy through opportunities such as this. Imagine if we started with this drive three years ago. We would have had a well-experienced team that goes in and qualifies. Yet it’s not late, we can start fresh and build on this.”



HOSTS

The tournament is set to take place at the University of Pretoria’s Rembrandt Hall.

In the last edition of the qualifiers held in Botswana, the Baby Proteas recorded a 100 per cent winning streak and walked away with the gold medal on top of qualifying for the global competition.

There are four spots up for grabs to represent the continent in the 20-team world event.

The global youth tournament returns for the first time since 2017, after the 2021 edition was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.



PARTICIPATING TEAMS

South Africa, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Namibia, Kenya, Tanzania



NAMIBIA FIXTURES

Sunday 17 March, v Malawi (16:00)

Monday 18 March, v Tanzania (08:00)

Tuesday 19 March, v Zimbabwe (18:00)

Thursday 20 March, v South Africa (10:00)

Thursday 20 March, v Kenya (16:00)

Friday 22 March, v Zambia (12:00)





NAMIBIA PLAYERS LIST

Aila Andreas

Elizabeth A.F. Besser

Marné du Toit

Jorinda Fourie

Loide Kanyolo

Hope Kazindovi

Grace Matyayi

Chrystelle A. Mbaha

Jaepa Muhimise

Usuta Muvangua

Desdamona Tjirera

Aila Uamburu

Reserves: Rosa Gowases, Uapandera Muundjua, Godlove Victor.

The group is accompanied by J.F. Musambani (head coach), Vijanda Kamberipa (assistant coach), David Tutaleni (assistant coach), Natasha Xoagus (team manager), Charles Namaseb (physiotherapist, strength and conditioning coach) and Munashe W.M. Chinyama (physiotherapist).