Defending champions Namibia Correctional Service (NCS) opened up a 12-point lead at the top of the MTC Netball Premier League log after an unbeaten run at the Power Week at Swakopmund last week.
The Power Week was an eight-day tournament in which all the 12 premier league teams, including 180 players, came together to play multiple back-to-back matches instead of their usual league matches over weekends.
“That’s exactly what international tournament demand, and the players got a taste of it right here at home. Physical fitness, mental toughness, adaptability under pressure, all of it was tested and strengthened,” Netball Namibia secretary general Jessica Gaomuses says.
On 23 May NCS started off with a comprehensive 56-29 victory against Tigers, with Monica Gomases winning the player of the match award, and followed that up with a 40-34 win against Nampol Netball Club the next day, with Magdalena Hishimuene winning the player of the match award.
NCS continued to rattle off some big wins in their next matches.
On 27 May, NCS beat Wanderers 62-28, with Sunshine Murangi winning the player of the match award.
The next day they beat 2024 champions Mighty Gunners 68-29, with Gomases winning the player of the match award.
On 29 May, they completed their week with another commanding win, beating Eastern Chiefs 55-23, while Elmarie !Haoses won the player of the match award.
On 30 May they received some resistance from Extreme Eagles but went on to win the match 47-40.
That put them well ahead of the chasing pack on the log on 61 points from 11 matches, with Mighty Gunners trailing in second place on 49 points, while Extreme Eagles are third on 41, Unam Ogongo fourth on 39 and Nampol fifth on 38.
Besides their defeat to NCS, Mighty Gunners also dropped points in a 54-48 defeat to Extreme Eagles, but they beat Navy 60-20 and Unam Ogongo 53-43.
Extreme Eagles had a fine tournament, beating Eastern Chiefs 39-27, Smart Girls 53-37 and Okamwandi United 39-30.
At the other end of the log, Namibian Navy are struggling with zero points, while Okamwandi United are on nine, Smart Girls on 15 and Wanderers on 16 points.
Netball Namibia president Juanita Witbeen says the standard of play has increased significantly.
“The overall standard of the league this season has been highly encouraging. We have seen a significant improvement in the quality of play, tactical awareness, fitness levels, and competitiveness across all participating teams. What has been particularly pleasing is the narrowing gap between traditionally dominent clubs and emerging teams, which demonstrates that investment in player development is beginning to bear fruit,” she says.
Witbeen adds that the Power Week also served as a platform to assess the national talent pool.
“The objective is not only to produce players capable of representing Namibia today, but to build a sustainable pipeline that will keep our national teams competitive in the years to come. The level of competition witnessed during Power Week gave us confidence that we are moving closer to that goal, and the performances have provided invaluable insight as we prepare for upcoming regional, continental and international engagements,” she says.
