AFCON netball called off

WINDHOEK – The Senior Netball African Cup of Nations (AFCON) scheduled from November 11 to 19 in Walvis Bay, has been postponed.

All Namibia Netball Association (ANNA) President Carol Garoes yesterday said the Supreme Council for Sports In Africa (SCSA) plus the Zone Six Council of Ministers, headed by Namibian Sports Minister John Mutorwa, as well as the Confederation of African Netball Associations (CANA), called off the competition. This was due to outstanding issues with regard to affiliation to international netball bodies.Garoes said that for many years now, some countries were affiliated to the International Federation of Netball Associations (IFNA) and not CANA, which goes against international sporting laws.She said the three African sports bodies (SCSA, Z6 Council of Ministers and CANA) decided to call of the competition this year to sort out the problem and normalise the structures and constitutions before any competition is held again.Garoes, who is also CANA President, emphasised that it was not Namibia’s fault at all that the competition has been postponed, as ANNA was ready to host the competition and defend the title that Namibia won in 2004 in Ghana.A Tri-Nations competition for both men and women players has been organised which will involve Zambia, Ghana and Namibia.The first games are scheduled for November 18 and 19 in Keetmanshoop and the second set of games are planned from November 24 to 26 in Walvis Bay.NampaThis was due to outstanding issues with regard to affiliation to international netball bodies.Garoes said that for many years now, some countries were affiliated to the International Federation of Netball Associations (IFNA) and not CANA, which goes against international sporting laws.She said the three African sports bodies (SCSA, Z6 Council of Ministers and CANA) decided to call of the competition this year to sort out the problem and normalise the structures and constitutions before any competition is held again.Garoes, who is also CANA President, emphasised that it was not Namibia’s fault at all that the competition has been postponed, as ANNA was ready to host the competition and defend the title that Namibia won in 2004 in Ghana.A Tri-Nations competition for both men and women players has been organised which will involve Zambia, Ghana and Namibia.The first games are scheduled for November 18 and 19 in Keetmanshoop and the second set of games are planned from November 24 to 26 in Walvis Bay.Nampa