Kasaona takes Newspaper Cup success in her stride

Kunene region was going to win the Nedbank Namibian Newspaper Cup eventually, says the 2025 tournament’s winning coach, Uerikondjera ‘Mammie’ Kasaona.

In leading Kunene to the title on home soil earlier this week, she ended decades of heartache and underachievement in the country’s premiere youth sport competition for the region. The humble 38-year-old mentor downplays her historic feat, saying it was a case of the stars aligning for the region.

“It was bound to happen,” Kasaona says.

“God’s timing is the perfect one. Indeed, the ‘Great Kunene’ is honoured and we have done it at home.”

Kasaona carved her name in Namibian football folklore by becoming the first woman to coach a team to the Newspaper Cup title.

Again she attributes that feat down to fate, saying she only did her part in the collective success. As a Kunene-native, she felt bound by duty to help the region achieve its goal.

“I think everything has its own timing and God’s timing is never wrong. So, I appreciate what God has done to us,” she says.

“Personally, it’s always about giving back to where you come from. Home is where the heart belongs. Indeed, it [effort] came with a winning prize. We are grateful for this blessing.”

Kasaona’s historic achievement is not by chance, says Namibia Women’s Football chairperson Monica Shapua.

She is finally reaping the rewards of her dedication to improving the craft.

“It’s something we as women’s football are proud of. It’s something that has been long coming. It’s historic, but it’s a long-term plan that we had for women’s football,” says Shapua, adding that Kasaona is a student of the ‘beautiful game’ who lives and breathes football.

This borderline obsession with football is her main strength, a trait she has carried from her playing days to coaching.

“Being the first female to coach a regional team and win the competition, it’s not a child’s play,” says Shapua.

“It’s a lot of hard work, a lot of determination, a lot of passion for the game that is put in and this is the result that is coming out now.

“This was not by luck. It takes a lot of planning, It takes a lot of hard work. It takes a lot of determination to do that. She has been putting in the work for a very long time.

Shapua would like to see the ‘Himba Gladiator’ taking charge of the Brave Gladiators or junior national teams full-time. Kasaona has been involved in these sides as an assistant or interim head coach in the past.

“Give her enough preparation. Give her a technical team of her desire, enough preparation and support financially.

“I know she can achieve great things. It means a lot for women’s football. It shows the return on investment that we have been putting in.”

Tim Ekandjo, a football fanatic when not working in the corporate world, heaps praise on Kasaona for her landmark moment.

“I thought that was quite an inspiring moment in our football history, which we should celebrate,” Ekandjo said when announcing a kit donation towards the national teams yesterday.

“I’m not sure whether it was the fact that she’s female or whether she just had a good team. But either way, when the team loses, we like to blame the coach. So, when the team wins, we should also then celebrate the effort or the strategies that the coaches employed as well.”