Namibia’s netball teams ready for Africa cup

Netball Namibia is paving the way for an exciting chapter in the sport's history as the country prepares to host the 2024 Africa cup in Swakopmund from 9–14 December. The tournament, set to feature over 10 nations competing in male and female categories, marks Namibia’s ground-breaking debut in male netball, alongside the continued rise of its female team, the Debmarine Desert Jewels.A Moment of Celebration and GratitudeYesterday, Netball Namibia held an official send-off ceremony for the national teams. The Debmarine Desert Jewels and the newly formed male netball team will proudly represent Namibia in this prestigious tournament. During the ceremony, Netball Namibia President Rebekka Goagoses expressed her gratitude to Debmarine Namibia, the main sponsor of the Desert Jewels and the Africa cup.“We cannot overemphasise our gratitude to Debmarine Namibia. They’ve supported the Desert Jewels on our journey to being ranked 19th in the world, a significant leap from where we started,” said Goagoses.She also highlighted Namibia’s commitment to meeting the stringent requirements of hosting an international tournament, such as acquiring "sprung floors" for indoor netball matches. While the government has committed to purchasing two floors for future use, Debmarine Namibia stepped in to ensure the floors would be available in time for the Africa cup.“This event reflects our growth—we last hosted it in 2019, but this time it’s on a much grander scale,” added Goagoses.Players Speak on the Journey AheadRivaldo Omeb, captain of the men’s netball team, expressed confidence and determination as his team heads into uncharted territory.“We are very excited. We want to put our strongest foot forward and make Namibia proud. We’ve been pushing hard, putting in extra hours to ensure we’re ready to compete,” he said.Meanwhile, Cornelia Mupenda, vice-captain of the Debmarine Desert Jewels, acknowledged the pressures of hosting the tournament but embraced them with optimism.“There’s always a lot of pressure when hosting, but we say pressure is a privilege. As a team, we’re ready. We’ve worked hard in training camps, and our pre-departure camp will demand even more sacrifice. We aim to improve our ranking to 17 or even 16—it’s a goal we’re fully aligned on,” Mupenda shared.Africa AwaitsAfrica Netball President Cecilia Molokwane called on Namibians, especially those in Swakopmund, to rally behind the tournament.“To everyone in Namibia, join us and come watch the best of the best on the African continent. All the best to Netball Namibia in hosting this significant event, and thank you to everyone, from sponsors to management and players, for your hard work. We’re ready to witness all the action,” said Molokwane.Building Legacy Through SportWith the Africa cup on the horizon, Namibia is not only showcasing its rising prowess in netball but also solidifying its role as a hub for international sports. As the Debmarine Desert Jewels aim to climb the global rankings and the male netball team prepares to make history, the tournament promises to leave a lasting legacy for Namibian sport.

Namibia’s netball teams ready for Africa cup

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Republikein 2025-11-05

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Namibia’s netball teams ready for Africa cup

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