Kavango East challenges Netball Namibia over under-19 selections

The Kavango East Netball Association has formally challenged Netball Namibia over the selection of the preliminary under-19 national squad, calling for a reconsideration of several players and raising concerns about regional representation.

In a press statement issued on 21 April, the association says it “strongly disagrees” with the outcome of the selection process following the Nedbank Namibian Newspaper Cup 2026.

The association says Kavango East’s dominance at the tournament, where they emerged champions, contradicts the limited representation in the national squad.

“Only one player was selected from the championship-winning team, while nine players from the Khomas region were selected, including players who were not first-choice starters,” the statement reads.

The association also questions the omission of the tournament’s top performer.

“Notably, the player of the tournament was excluded. This outcome presents a contradiction between performance on the court and selection decisions,” the association says.

UNDER-REPRESENTATION

The body further warns that continued under-representation of players from outside Windhoek risks damaging confidence in national pathways.

“We are already experiencing growing difficulty convincing parents and schools to release pupils for national competitions,” the association says, adding that the trend could affect participation in future editions, including the 2027 tournament.

It has called on Netball Namibia to reconsider the exclusion of four players, Ester Kapinga, Lydia Shipete, Annastacia Mungamba, and Sandrina Mukuve, who consistently demonstrated national-level performance, it says.

The association also urges the federation to ensure broader technical and managerial representation across regions.

The latest statement follows an earlier response from Netball Namibia, which defended its selection process amid public criticism.

Netball Namibia president Juanita Witbeen says the selection system is guided by a standardised framework focusing on technical execution, tactical awareness, physical readiness, and positional balance.

She says selections are made by a panel of qualified officials using structured evaluation tools to minimise subjectivity.

Addressing the exclusion of standout players, including top shooter Ester Kapinga, Witbeen says decisions are based on how individuals fit within the overall team setup and tactical requirements.

However, criticism has continued from regional leadership.

Rundu Rural constituency councillor Paulus Mbangu previously questioned how the runner-up team could produce nine selected players while the champions had only one.

“If the runner-up team indeed had nine outstanding individual performers, how did they lose to both Otjozondjupa and Kavango East?” he asks.

In an age of information overload, Sunrise is The Namibian’s morning briefing, delivered at 6h00 from Monday to Friday. It offers a curated rundown of the most important stories from the past 24 hours – occasionally with a light, witty touch. It’s an essential way to stay informed. Subscribe and join our newsletter community.