Kavango East defends netball cup

Kavango East retained their Nedbank Namibian Newspaper Cup netball title after defeating Khomas 35–28 in a fiercely contested final at Keetmanshoop yesterday.

The match lived up to expectations, with both sides displaying intensity and a strong rivalry. The two teams had already met earlier in the tournament during the pool stages on Friday, where Khomas emerged victorious with the same 35–28 scoreline.

However, Kavango East turned the tables when it mattered most.

Head coach Frans Ndara says the turnaround came from honest reflection and tactical adjustments after their earlier defeat.

“Like I promised the region, we were going to bring back the cup,” Ndara says.

“When we were defeated, we had to go back to the drawing board. We looked at what did not go well, especially losing our centre passes, and worked on our defence and intercepting those passes. That worked for us.”

The final started at a high tempo, with both teams going blow-for-blow in a tightly contested first quarter. There was little to separate the sides early on, but Kavango East gradually took control in the second quarter to lead 18–14 at half-time.

Khomas remained within reach throughout the match, but Kavango East maintained their composure in the closing stages to secure victory and successfully defend their title.

Ndara also highlights the development of his squad, noting that while some players will graduate, a strong core remains.

“We still have about five to six players remaining, plus others at home. We are building a team that can continue competing at this level,” he says.

On the other hand, Khomas coach Zanté Farmer was gracious in defeat, admitting that her side was second-best on the day.

“They wanted it more. At the end of the day, they wanted it more,” Farmer says.

“Our girls struggled mentally. We have a lot of inexperienced players, but that is not an excuse. Kavango East deserves it.”

Despite the loss, Farmer remains optimistic about her team’s future.

“We grow from this. You learn more from a loss than from a win. This will build character, and we will come back stronger,” she says.

She also praises the overall standard of the competition.

“It was good netball. Namibia has a lot of raw talent, and it’s exciting to see the different styles from all the regions.”

In the third-place playoff, Ohangwena defeated Kavango West 30–21 to secure the bronze medal.

Speaking after winning their earlier matches, Ohangwena coach Wilem Imbondi said his side had to reedem themselves from their semi-final loss to eventual winners Kavango East.

“The first thing I told my girls was for them to focus and avoid the unnecesary mistakes they made when they played Kavango East in the semis.”

The coach said he told his players that they travelled a long distance and they needed to go home with something to show their governor.

He thanked all the stakeholders who helped the team’s campaign, and promised a strong comeback.

“Thank you to our governor and our queen for the support. We only lost one game, we will look to the youth games and see if we will win.

Next year we will come back in good shape to win the Newspaper Cup,” he said.

He added that before he leaves the team, he wants to secure a title win.

The player of the tournament and best defender awards went to Martha Mununga from Kavango East.

Best shooter award went to Esther Kapinga, while Ndilimeke Erastus from Ohangwena won the best midcourt award.

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.