NAMIBIA’S senior and junior women’s football teams, the Brave and Young Gladiators, will play friendly matches against Swaziland’s national team at the NFA Technical Centre on 26 and 28 September.
The matches will serve as preparation for next year’s African Women’s Championships that Namibia will host and the upcoming 2014 Fifa Under 20 Women’s World Cup qualifiers.
A group of 19 senior players already started training on 17 September for the senior encounter that will start at 16h30 on Saturday, 28 September.
A further group of 23 players have been called up for the Young Gladiators who will play Swaziland on Thursday, 26 September at 16h00 at the NFA Technical Centre.
This match will serve as preparation for their Fifa U20 Women’s World Cup qualifier against Zambia in Windhoek on October 26.
Rejoice Kasaona, who has returned from Germany, has been identified as the player to watch out for during the Saturday clash against Swaziland.
According to national coach Jacqui Shipanga, the return of Stella Williams, Shirley Cloete and Leandre Lukas, after almost a year-long absence will also be crucial, due to their experience and exposure at international level over the years.
They will however face competition from promising youngsters such as Annouscka Kordom and Memory Ngonda who are both just 15 years old, as well as the ever improving Vistoria Shangula whose play has improved tremendously over the past year.
Also up for consideration is Rejoice Tjitaura, a teacher in the Oshana region, who came into the reckoning during the Talent Identification Cup that was held earlier this year.
“Swaziland is coming with their senior team and has been in camp for the past three months. Our Under 20’s match against their senior team will give us an ideal opportunity to measure the strength of our junior team against a senior side. Swaziland has made tremendous strides in the development of their women’s national teams and will be a tough nut to crack,” said Shipanga.
The Brave Gladiators squad is as follows: Agnes Kauzuu, Novata Paulus, Lydia Eixas, Rejoice Tjitaura, Stacey Naris, Rejoice Kasaona, Mangulukeni Hamata, Ina Katuta, Ester Amukwaya, Amukoto Iyakondjelwa, Emmerencia Fredericks, Zenatha Coleman, Stella Williams, Shirley Cloete, Leandre Lukas, Martina Tjauha, Vistoria Shangula, Juliana Skrywer and Maggy Paulus.
The National Under 20 training squad is as follows: Juliana Blou (Mariental High School), Millicent Hikuam (Empelheim High School), Meltred Ujamba (Paresis Secondary School), Mary Jane (Paresis Secondary School), Iyaloo Rooi (Spes Bona Primary School), Burnie Dennis (Swakopmund Secondary School), Kimberly Garises (Kuisebmond Secondary School), Grace Kordom (Kuisebmond Secondary School), Lina Hoxobes (Noordgrens Secondary School), Tjingeeri Kauejao (Okakarara Secondary School), Kamunikire Tjituka (Eden Primary School), Melissa Matheus (Augustinium Secondary School), Vitapamwe Kamahene (Augustinium Secondary School), Anna Shikusho (Goreangab Secondary School), Melissa Eises (Goreangab Secondary School), Jasmin Baas (DHPS), Memory Ngonda (MH Greeff Primary School), Annouscka Kordom (Eldorado Secondary School), Cadisha Kazimbu (Eldorado Secondary School), Annouscka Meyer (Jan Jonker Secondary School), Defney Noabes, Lena Noreses and Alberta Dawes.
