Gladiators flourish at schools

THE Namibian women’s football team contains no ordinary players, as more than half of the players were named Sportswoman of the Year at their schools last year.

Nine of the key players in the youthful Brave Gladiators side walked away with Sportswoman of the Year titles at their schools, and on top of that, most are multi-talented and compete well in other sports codes. Team captain Helvi Eliakim is not only a footballer, but a seasoned track athlete, specialising in the 200 metres, high jump and javelin disciplines.Eliakim, who is now 21 years of age, was named the Sportswoman of the Year at the Windhoek College of Education last year and her dedication to football has brought her the armband of the national side, which she wears with pride, while her leadership skills have proven invaluable for the side.Leandri Lucas (17), who scored twice in their 2-1 win over Zimbabwe last weekend, was named Sportswoman of the Year at the Rehoboth High School last year due to her involvement with the national side and her terrific skills with the hockey stick, while she also has a passion for netball.Eliakim is the defender for the women’s football team, while Lucas plays as a left winger.Lucas was also the best sportswoman at the same school in 2003, 2004 and 2006.Eliakim, who is one year away from completing her Basic Education Teachers Diploma (BETD), has about 10 caps for the team and is fluent in the German language.At the moment, Eliakim has torn her knee ligaments and will be out for the first leg 2008 Olympic Games qualifier against the Democratic Republic of Congo on February 17.Lucas, who also suffered a back injury against Zimbabwe last weekend, has fully recovered and will be in the side.Other players in the side that has impressed at their different institutions include Petronella Gaes, a midfielder, who was honoured as the Sportswoman of the Year at the Polytechnic of Namibia last year, while the team’s goalkeeper, Lydia ‘Bonnita’ Eixas, scooped the same award at the Goreangab Junior Secondary School.Gaes was also the chairperson of the Polytechnic Debating Society last year.Stacy Naris, who is a defender, walked away with the Sportswoman of the Year title at her Eldorado Secondary School last year, while Chevron Wintenaar took the same honour at the PK de Villiers High School in Keetmanshoop.Naris also plays netball when she is not involved with the national team, while Wintenaar also plays netball.Wintenaar was interestingly also selected for the national women’s rugby side, but she has not yet proven herself on that level as the game has not made inroads among women at this stage.Trooi Rukamba, a midfielder, who is now in Grade 9, was the top female athlete at the Primary School Keetmanshoop last year, while the fast-running winger Mary Jacobs, was awarded with the same title at the JG van der Wath Secondary School at Okahandja.Jacobs is also a track athlete when not playing football and has proven herself on the pitch with her rapid pace, especially when she comes on as a substitute.Helena Iipinge, who is also a long-distance runner, was the best sportswoman in the Namibia Defence Force (NDF) last year.She stood along 2006 Commonwealth gold medallist Japhet Uutoni when she received her award.Uutoni was the NDF’s Sportsman of the Year.It is not all rosy for the women’s side, though, as there are many factors that need to be sorted out off the field.The Namibia Football Association (NFA) executive member responsible for women’s football development, Jacky Gertze, says she has a strategic plan for the women’s game, but a lack of money and transport, as well as interference from higher authorities, make it difficult to execute the plan.She said so far only five regions have developed the women’s game, but she was looking forward to more financial support to reach the other regions.Namibia’s women’s side has only played nine international matches since 1990 and has never won any major competition, except reaching the final of the Cosafa Cup against South Africa last year, in which they obtained a silver medal.But according to Namibian coach Jacqui Shipanga, the team has shown tremendous improvement and is destined to become one of the top teams in the region.Team captain Helvi Eliakim is not only a footballer, but a seasoned track athlete, specialising in the 200 metres, high jump and javelin disciplines.Eliakim, who is now 21 years of age, was named the Sportswoman of the Year at the Windhoek College of Education last year and her dedication to football has brought her the armband of the national side, which she wears with pride, while her leadership skills have proven invaluable for the side.Leandri Lucas (17), who scored twice in their 2-1 win over Zimbabwe last weekend, was named Sportswoman of the Year at the Rehoboth High School last year due to her involvement with the national side and her terrific skills with the hockey stick, while she also has a passion for netball.Eliakim is the defender for the women’s football team, while Lucas plays as a left winger.Lucas was also the best sportswoman at the same school in 2003, 2004 and 2006.Eliakim, who is one year away from completing her Basic Education Teachers Diploma (BETD), has about 10 caps for the team and is fluent in the German language.At the moment, Eliakim has torn her knee ligaments and will be out for the first leg 2008 Olympic Games qualifier against the Democratic Republic of Congo on February 17.Lucas, who also suffered a back injury against Zimbabwe last weekend, has fully recovered and will be in the side.Other players in the side that has impressed at their different institutions include Petronella Gaes, a midfielder, who was honoured as the Sportswoman of the Year at the Polytechnic of Namibia last year, while the team’s goalkeeper, Lydia ‘Bonnita’ Eixas, scooped the same award at the Goreangab Junior Secondary School.Gaes was also the chairperson of the Polytechnic Debating Society last year.Stacy Naris, who is a defender, walked away with the Sportswoman of the Year title at her Eldorado Secondary School last year, while Chevron Wintenaar took the same honour at the PK de Villiers High School in Keetmanshoop.Naris also plays netball when she is not involved with the national team, while Wintenaar also plays netball.Wintenaar was interestingly also selected for the national women’s rugby side, but she has not yet proven herself on that level as the game has not made inroads among women at this stage.Trooi Rukamba, a midfielder, who is now in Grade 9, was the top female athlete at the Primary School Keetmanshoop last year, while the fast-running winger Mary Jacobs, was awarded with the same title at the JG van der Wath Secondary School at Okahandja.Jacobs is also a track athlete when not playing football and has proven herself on the pitch with her rapid pace, especially when she comes on as a substitute.Helena Iipinge, who is also a long-distance runner, was the best sportswoman in the Namibia Defence Force (NDF) last year.She stood along 2006 Commonwealth gold medallist Japhet Uutoni when she received her award.Uutoni was the NDF’s Sportsman of the Year.It is not all rosy for the women’s side, though, as there are many factors that need to be sorted out off the field.The Namibia Football Association (NFA) executive member responsible for women’s football development, Jacky Gertze, says she has a strategic plan for the women’s game, but a lack of money and transport, as well as interference from higher authorities, make it difficult to execute the plan.She said so far only five regions have developed the women’s game, but she was looking forward to more financial support to reach the other regions.Namibia’s women’s side has only played nine international matches since 1990 and has never won any major competition, except reaching the final of the Cosafa Cup against South Africa last year, in which they obtained a silver medal.But according to Namibian coach Jacqui Shipanga, the team has shown tremendous improvement and is destined to become one of the top teams in the region.