BRAVE Gladiators coach Jacqueline Shipanga has named a squad of 22 players to take on Tanzania in an African Women’s Championships qualifying match in Windhoek on Saturday, January 14.
The squad has a decidedly youthful look about it, with seven members still part of the Under-20 squad.JS Academy defender Lovisa Mulunga is the youngest member at 16 years of age, while JS Academy striker Lena Noreses and Okahandja Beauties midfielder Albertha Dawes are both 17.JS Academy striker Carmel Donn recently turned 18, while team mate Vewe Kotjipati is 19.Lorraine Jossop of Poly Babes is 18, while former Okahandja Beauties striker Thomalina Adams is 18.Adams and former Beauties defender Mammie Kasaona have in the meantime both gone abroad, after being signed by German fourth division club Germania FC in September 2011.The Gladiators squad includes several senior stalwarts like captain and midfielder Queen Manga, defenders Stacey Naris and Mangulukeni Hamata, midfielders Shirley Cloete and Kleintjie Fredericks, and striker Juliana Skrywer.Veteran striker Stella Williams has been recalled to the team while other new additions include defender Esther Amukwaya, and midfielder Iina Katuta.The squad had a friendly match against a Challenger U17 boys team on Sunday and although they lost the match 2-0, Shipanga was happy with their performance.’The result was not so important – it was more important that they receive strong and physical opposition and that’s why we played against a male team,’ she said.Former Brave Warriors caretaker coach Brian Isaacs has been appointed as technical director of the squad and was on the sidelines, giving instructions.Despite losing the match, the Gladiators impressed with their tactical awareness, passing and interplay and created numerous chances which their strikers failed to make use of.Shipanga, meanwhile, said she expected tough opposition from Tanzania, who have become a force in women’s football in Africa.’They are a very physical team and have speedy and strong players. They participated at the previous African Women’s Championships in 2010, while they came third at the 2011 Cosafa Championships behind Zimbabwe and South Africa,’ she said. The Namibian squad is as follows: Goalkeepers – Susanna Eises, Lydia Eixas;Defenders – Lovisa Mulunga, Esther Amukwaya, Mariana Gaebusi, Mangulukeni Hamata, Stacey Naris, Veweziwa Kotjipati, Mammie Kasaona;Midfielders – Lena Noreses, Lorraine Jossop, Kleintjie Fredericks, Albertha Dawes, Iina Katuta, Stella Williams, Queen Manga, Shirley Cloete, Twelikondjela Amukoto.Strikers – Carmel Donn, Juliana Skrywer, Novata Paulus, Tomalina Adams.- namibiasport.com.na
