Netball national training squad selected

THE All Namibia Netball Association (ANNA) announced the names of 23 players who made it to the national training squad for the African qualifiers that are due to be held in Tanzania in September.

ANNA secretary general Dalene Coetzee said they would select the final team approximately two weeks before the start of the African qualifiers. Thereafter they would organise a final training camp for the final 12 selected players.’We decided to select the 23 girls because the quality we saw at the trials was great. We struggled to get a final 12 because they are all very good,’ Coetzee said.’The plan is to send them home with a training programme that they have to follow and then every two weeks they report to a centre in their different regions where they will get a fitness test to make sure that they remain fit,’ she added.The whole team will meet on three dates that are still to be determined where the training staff will work with the players. These camps will be in the south, north and at the coast. ‘At the last training camp, which will be in Windhoek, the final team of 12 will be selected. This is to ensure that the team will be ready to participate in Tanzania,’ Coetzee said.The executive committee has not yet decided on who will coach the team.’This week we are going to have a meeting to make a final decision on who will be the coach for the team,’ Coetzee said.Coetzee also said that Tanzania was having problems finding a proper venue to host the tournament.’We are still waiting for the final decision from African Netball about the venue and dates. Tanzania needs to obtain a court inside a building. If they don’t get it then the qualifiers will be moved to South Africa,’ she said.Other countries that will participate are South Africa, Swaziland, Lesotho, Zambia, Tanzania, Ghana, Kenya and Tanzania. The countries that will finish first and second will join Malawi to represent Africa at the World Netball Championships in Singapore from July 3 to 19 next year. Malawi has qualified because they are fifth in the world rankings and the top five ranked nations including the host, Singapore get automatic qualifications.The other top-ranked countries with automatic qualification are Australia, New Zealand, England and Jamaica.The players selected are: Chanique Ras, Nadine Moolman, Chrismari de Wit (Oshikoto Region), Vivienne Katjiuongua, Hilma Ipinge, Esna van Zyl, Jatjinda Kabatuku, Susan van Zyl, Eve Hamaalwa, Uaunisa Kariahuua, Yvonne Kotjipati, Joeline Dunn, Menethe Muvangua (Khomas Region), Anna Kasper, Ingrid Afrikaner (Erongo Region), Zenobia Tsei-Tseib, Denesia Fleermuys (Hardap Region), Esther Uugwangwa, Emma Naanda (Karas Region), Gisella Katjingisua, Gleneth Kazonganga, Drusella Kambirongo (Tisan). – namibiasport.com.na