Nedbank Namibian Newspaper Cup praised by netball community

The netball fraternity has come out to show praise for the Nedbank Namibian Newspaper Cup’s role in elevating the sport to greater hights.

In 2018, netball became an addtional sport code to the Nedbank Namibian Newspaper Cup that only focused on football before 2018.

Since then, the tournament has been used as a talent scouting platform to select players to their under-19 team and eventually the senior national team, the Desert Jewels.

Honorary member of Netball Namibia Issa Donell expresses her satisfaction with the tournament over the years and how the sport has evolved as being part of it.

“After observing the Newspaper Cup, it has grown from 2018 up until now. I can even see the way the selections are going in the various regions, there is really competition,” she says.

She also told The Namibian she was optimistic about the impact of this tournament on the sport.

“I think after this event, 20 or 30 players that will be identified for the under-19 team will be a very strong group. We are seeing the future in netball. People are really working in the regions.”

Former sports minister Agnes Tjongarero on Friday noted the sport improvement through the years.

“You know that the standard has improved so much,” she said. “We are really enjoying the netball.”

Tjongarero also encouraged younger players to attend the tournament.

“The younger ladies must come and watch so they can see how the things are being done.”

Former vice chairperson of //Kharas regional schools netball Suzelle Cloete on Saturday applauded the tournament for the way it was organised.

“The planning and organising of the committees was done quite well,” she said.

Cloete said she was particularly impressed with the Kunene region’s execution.

“I also want to applaud the regional council of the Kunene region, the local authority that was involved in getting everything in order here,” she said.

She highlighted the quality of the facilities at the Outjo Sport Stadium.

“The facilities here are what we expected. What we saw here wasn’t like in other towns. I would say job
well done, it’s really good,” she added.

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