Namibian netball in need of international exposure

NAMIBIAN netball players and umpires need exposure on the international front for the game to grow locally.

This is the opinion of South African netball umpire Annie Kloppers, who conducted an Umpires’ Grading Course in Windhoek last week. Kloppers said the standard of Namibian players was not bad at all, but there is still room for improvement.She was invited to conduct the course, while she also witnessed the Khomas Netball Region’s season-opening tournament.Kloppers, who has been a Grade A umpire for the past 10 years, added that players can improve if they have something to train and play for.She suggested that the local netball mother body, the All Namibia Netball Association (ANNA), organise the national team to play at the annual South African championships, which is a competition of high standard.Kloppers, who played for the South African national team for six years, said the umpires also need exposure for them to develop.She could see a lot of potential, and was positive that some of the umpires who took part in the course would come out with higher grades.The final results of the course will be announced once the theoretical examination that the participants did is graded in South Africa.The expert said the umpires were willing to learn, and proposed that they do more umpiring courses in South Africa.A Grade A qualification would enable an umpire to officiate internationally as well as to present umpiring courses.* Meanwhile, Black Africa Netball Club clinched the season-opening tournament held at the United Sports Ground on Saturday.Black Africa’s first team won Leg A made up of first- and second-division teams, and their second team ended third in the same category.BA also came first in Leg B, which consisted of third-division teams as well as teams from the newly established Industrial Netball League.Last year, BA won the first, second and third divisions of the Khomas League, which was a repeat of 2004.Civics finished second in Leg A, while Orlando Pirates and Mariental ended second and third respectively in Leg B of the competition.Black Africa won N$2 500 for first place and N$1 000 for third place in Leg A, while Civics received N$1 500.Black Africa scooped another N$1 500 in Leg B, while Orlando Pirates won N$1 000 and Mariental N$500.Fifteen teams took part in the competition, organised by the Khomas Netball Region.Kloppers said the standard of Namibian players was not bad at all, but there is still room for improvement.She was invited to conduct the course, while she also witnessed the Khomas Netball Region’s season-opening tournament.Kloppers, who has been a Grade A umpire for the past 10 years, added that players can improve if they have something to train and play for.She suggested that the local netball mother body, the All Namibia Netball Association (ANNA), organise the national team to play at the annual South African championships, which is a competition of high standard.Kloppers, who played for the South African national team for six years, said the umpires also need exposure for them to develop.She could see a lot of potential, and was positive that some of the umpires who took part in the course would come out with higher grades.The final results of the course will be announced once the theoretical examination that the participants did is graded in South Africa.The expert said the umpires were willing to learn, and proposed that they do more umpiring courses in South Africa.A Grade A qualification would enable an umpire to officiate internationally as well as to present umpiring courses.* Meanwhile, Black Africa Netball Club clinched the season-opening tournament held at the United Sports Ground on Saturday.Black Africa’s first team won Leg A made up of first- and second-division teams, and their second team ended third in the same category.BA also came first in Leg B, which consisted of third-division teams as well as teams from the newly established Industrial Netball League.Last year, BA won the first, second and third divisions of the Khomas League, which was a repeat of 2004.Civics finished second in Leg A, while Orlando Pirates and Mariental ended second and third respectively in Leg B of the competition.Black Africa won N$2 500 for first place and N$1 000 for third place in Leg A, while Civics received N$1 500.Black Africa scooped another N$1 500 in Leg B, while Orlando Pirates won N$1 000 and Mariental N$500.Fifteen teams took part in the competition, organised by the Khomas Netball Region.