Banyana in for a shock

NAMIBIA has named a strong under-21 women’s football squad for what could be a historic international friendly against South Africa’s Banyana Banyana in Windhoek on Saturday.

The South Africans can expect a solid Namibian performance from a side that has greatly improved and will surely have plenty of surprises in the offing. The side mostly consists of under-20 players who will use the friendly as preparation for their Zone Six Under-20 Championships in Potchefstroom, South Africa, in December.But there are four senior players in defender Novata Paulus, striker Stella Williams, midfielders Johanna Skrywer, Mangulukeni ‘Zuma’ Hamata and midfielder Salome Iyambo, who will provide the necessary competition for the training group.Williams, the most experienced centre forward, is the leading national team scorer and also topped the charts in the domestic women’s football league with 18 goals for her team Okahandja Beauties last season.Yesterday, Namibia Football Association (NFA) Women’s Football Desk co-ordinator Jackey Gertze said seeing that South Africa have picked their strongest squad by calling players from the United States and Sweden for the friendly, the senior players will be kept for the encounter to add stability in some departments.Most of the players in the under-20 squad are indeed also in the senior team and these include the likes of first-choice goalkeeper Bonita ‘Kiparos’ Eixas, defender Stacy Naris and midfielder Leadri ‘Soekie’ Lucas.Other key players include midfielder Mary ‘Drogba’ Jacobs and defender Susana Eises, who can also guard the sticks.The sensational defender-cum-midfielder Rejoice Kasaona, who hails from Opuwo, and who does duty for Okahandja Beauties in the Khomas Women’s Football League, will also be in the mix of things.So will goal-getter Emma ‘Kleintjie’ Fredericks, who also strikes for Okahandja Beauties.The stocky player has been a force in the Namibian attack alongside Williams and has improved with each game since the partnership.VAST IMPROVEMENT The Namibian team have improved over the years and stand a good chance to make it to the final stages of the Zone Six Championships in South Africa.But the first hurdle will be to show the home fans what they are made of when they take on the South Africans, who are also preparing for their international competitions.Namibia in the past lost with high margins to South Africa, but the losing trend has been reversed considerably after Namibian ended as runners-up during the Women’s African Nations Cup in Zambia last year.They continued to record good results and along the way beat Zimbabwe and Botswana in friendlies.Most of the players in the squad are fresh from the NFA’s Women’s National Championships which took place at the weekend and ought to be sharp for the match.The South African team is expected to arrive on Thursday.Gertze said the venue for the match will be determined by tomorrow, but the Khomasdal Stadium in Katutura is considered as the best because of its close proximity to the fans and the festive atmosphere that prevails there during matches.The side mostly consists of under-20 players who will use the friendly as preparation for their Zone Six Under-20 Championships in Potchefstroom, South Africa, in December.But there are four senior players in defender Novata Paulus, striker Stella Williams, midfielders Johanna Skrywer, Mangulukeni ‘Zuma’ Hamata and midfielder Salome Iyambo, who will provide the necessary competition for the training group.Williams, the most experienced centre forward, is the leading national team scorer and also topped the charts in the domestic women’s football league with 18 goals for her team Okahandja Beauties last season.Yesterday, Namibia Football Association (NFA) Women’s Football Desk co-ordinator Jackey Gertze said seeing that South Africa have picked their strongest squad by calling players from the United States and Sweden for the friendly, the senior players will be kept for the encounter to add stability in some departments.Most of the players in the under-20 squad are indeed also in the senior team and these include the likes of first-choice goalkeeper Bonita ‘Kiparos’ Eixas, defender Stacy Naris and midfielder Leadri ‘Soekie’ Lucas.Other key players include midfielder Mary ‘Drogba’ Jacobs and defender Susana Eises, who can also guard the sticks.The sensational defender-cum-midfielder Rejoice Kasaona, who hails from Opuwo, and who does duty for Okahandja Beauties in the Khomas Women’s Football League, will also be in the mix of things.So will goal-getter Emma ‘Kleintjie’ Fredericks, who also strikes for Okahandja Beauties.The stocky player has been a force in the Namibian attack alongside Williams and has improved with each game since the partnership. VAST IMPROVEMENT The Namibian team have improved over the years and stand a good chance to make it to the final stages of the Zone Six Championships in South Africa.But the first hurdle will be to show the home fans what they are made of when they take on the South Africans, who are also preparing for their international competitions.Namibia in the past lost with high margins to South Africa, but the losing trend has been reversed considerably after Namibian ended as runners-up during the Women’s African Nations Cup in Zambia last year.They continued to record good results and along the way beat Zimbabwe and Botswana in friendlies.Most of the players in the squad are fresh from the NFA’s Women’s National Championships which took place at the weekend and ought to be sharp for the match.The South African team is expected to arrive on Thursday.Gertze said the venue for the match will be determined by tomorrow, but the Khomasdal Stadium in Katutura is considered as the best because of its close proximity to the fans and the festive atmosphere that prevails there during matches.