4 Namibians in African team

FOUR players from the Namibian U/14 girls’ soccer team have been selected to an African Youth XI at the Norway Cup soccer tournament in Oslo.

Emma Naris and Anuschka Meyer from A I Steenkamp School, Heidi Kebbel from Delta School Windhoek, currently playing for the SKW Youth Academy, and Abrille Beukes from St George’s School made it into the Africa Youth XI. The African Youth team was supposed to play against a European Youth team, but the match was cancelled due to rain. The team however received official recognition and was announced as the best African team.The Namibian team, which was sponsored by SCORE, won one, drew one and lost one match during the group stages before they lost on penalties in the knockout stages.In the group matches SCORE Namibia beat Skedsmo 7-0, drew 2-2 against Nes Ringsaker and lost 3-1 to Skade Ulefoss. It was a great achievement to qualify for the knockout stages, since a total of 72 teams from all over the world participated in the U/14 girls’ category. More than 30 000 players competed in this year’s Norway Cup competition, making it one of the biggest youth soccer tournaments in the world.’This tournament is so big, we had to travel by bus from one playing field to the next, and in the dining room you meet 3 000 people!’ SKW’s website quoted Heidi Kebbel as saying. ‘We are guests of the Norwegian Elverum Football Club who are very friendly and good hosts. Our team management is also doing their utmost to keep us happy,’ she said. The Namibian team left Oslo on Saturday and arrived in Windhoek yesterday, after flying via Istanbul and Cape Town. The Namibian U/14 team is as follows:Lovisa Mulunga (captain), Anna Shikusho, Melanie Hikuam, Revival Goa-eises, Shariefa Apollus, Beadine van Wyk, Heidi Kebbel, Abrille Beukes, Claudia Gaingos, Miroldi Appollus, Anuschca Meyer, Eunice Gases, Cadisha Kazimbu, Eddelisisingh Naris, Brunelda Cloete and Melissa Eises.www.namibiasport.com.na