Namibia will host South Africa in a women’s indoor hockey test series next month. The Namibia Hockey Union issued a press release today confirming that the series will consist of five matches and will be staged at the Sports Facilitation Centre at the Windhoek Showgrounds from 9 to 11 October.
“This clash brings together the top two indoor hockey powerhouses on the African continent. Currently ranked first in Africa and eighth in the world, the Namibian women’s team will take on their fiercest rivals South Africa (ranked second in Africa and ninth in the world) in what promises to be a thrilling display of world class skill, speed and tactical excellence on home soil,” the press release states.
The series will kick off with the first test on Friday, 9 October at 18h00, while two tests will be staged on both Saturday and Sunday at 11h00 and 18h00 respectively.
The two sides have a close historic rivalry in recent years.
In 2022 Namibia beat SA 2-1 at the same venue in Windhoek, but two years later SA turned the tables when they won the Indoor Africa Cup in Swakopmund.
There was hardly anything to choose between the two sides as they drew 1-1 in their group match, while they once again drew 3-3 in the final, before SA won the penalty shootout to claim the African title.
Both teams competed at the 2025 Indoor Hockey World Cup in Croatia and although they didn’t face each other, Namibia ultimately finished sixth overall and SA eighth overall.
They have also competed regularly in the annual Nkosi Cup that was launched in Cape Town in 2023, with Namibia winning the title that year after beating SA 4-2 in the final, while Namibia retained the title in 2024 after beating SA 3-1 in the final. Last year, however, SA beat Namibia 5-3 in the semifinals and went on to beat Australia 4-3 in the final to win their first Nkosi Cup title.
The NHU has invited all hockey enthusiasts and members of the public to come out in numbers to support the Namibian women’s team against their South African counterparts.
More information can be obtained from the NHU vice president Tunomwaameni Epafras at media@namibiahockey.org
