Namibia women storm into quarterfinals

Namibia’s women’s team stormed into the quarterfinals of the Indoor Hockey World Cup with an emphatic 7-0 victory against New Zealand in Porec yesterday. 

With Germany also beating Australia 7-0, it means that they top the log on six points each and are both through to the quarterfinals – in Namibia’s case for the first time ever. 

Namibia’s men reached the quarter finals in 2023 but despite beating Trinidad and Tobago 6-3 yesterday, they will have to beat Australia in their final pool match today to make sure of repeating that feat. 

But it was Namibia’s women who stole the show with a great performance.

After a hard-fought opening quarter of few chances, Namibia stepped up the pressure in the second quarter and finally opened their account with two goals just before half time. Danja Meyer scored from a short corner while Jahntwa Kruger made it 2-0 with a field goal on 19 minutes. 

Namibia continued to attack after the break and took a firm grip of the match when Azaylee Philander scored from a short corner and Jivanka Kruger a field goal in quick succession to go 4-0 ahead by the third quarter. 

New Zealand replaced their goalie with an outfield player in the final quarter but it didn’t make much difference as Namibia exploited their defensive gaps. Another goal by Jivanka Kruger and two more by Tamara Myburgh completed a resounding victory. 

After the match Namibia coach Shayne Cormack paid tribute to all the other coaches before her who had contributed to the team’s success. 

“I want to dedicate this win to all the coaches in Namibia who have gone before, that have helped these girls get to where they are. I’ve been involved with them just for a while, the last year about, so I want to dedicate this to Sedric (Makati), to Melissa (Gillies), to Erwin (Handura), to all that have gone before. This must say well done to them as well, because they put in a lot of hours and a lot of work with these ladies. This is a unified effort and you know, when there is unity, God demands a blessing. So I think that’s what we’ve got today,” she said. 

“Our number was always seven when we came to this tournament. It was about unity, it was about competition, it was about trust. And today I just feel like the Lord came through for us because our nation is so unified and this win was for everybody at home,” she added. 

Cormack said they had reached their first goal of reaching the quarterfinals.

“I’m ecstatic, because that was our first goal. We wanted to beat Australia, we wanted to beat New Zealand, and to have a bit of fun against Germany tomorrow and see what we can do. And then obviously we wanted to get into the quarters. So now the tournament starts all over again for us and we’re going to have fun and see where the Lord takes us,” she said. 

“They’ve got so much heart and belief in each other, so you know, the impossible can happen. I’m really proud of them, and I’m so grateful that I didn’t have to stress,” she added. 

Namibia’s men, meanwhile, got  their first win at the World Cup, with a 6-3 victory against Trinidad and Tobago yesterday. 

Two goals by JP Britz and one each by Ernest Jacobs, Cody van der Merwe, Dakota Hansen and Nico Neethling completed a commanding win which puts them back in contention for a place in the knockout stages, after their opening day 7-4 defeat to Belgium. 

Namibia coach Trevor Cormack, however, was not too happy with their performance. 

“I’m happy with the result, I’m just not happy with our play and I thought we really made a meal of it. It took too long to get into the game and our team to stay in the game. So I’m not really happy with our play, but I’ll bank the win,” he said.

“The problem is we were looking for a good goal difference but this result is not good for us. If Australia get a result against us, we will be in a bit of trouble,” he added.  

Cormack said they will have to beat Australia to make sure of reaching the quarterfinals. 

“That was always our plan, to beat Trinidad and then to beat Australia, so we need that result. Otherwise, it will probably go to goal difference and then anything can happen,” he added. 

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