NETBALL Namibia on Tuesday expressed gratitude to The Namibian Newspaper Cup organisers for adding the perpetually sidelined sport code to the popular annual youth development event.
Traditionally a football tournament for men under-20, the Nedbank-supported initiative will for the first time include a second sport discipline as the organisers attempt to broaden its appeal and impact.
The organisers felt it prudent to extend their scope, given the dearth of sport competitions for netball, and indeed young women, in the country.
“We are delighted to formally announce that netball has been included in the 18th edition of The Namibian Newspaper Cup that will take place at Katima Mulilo, Zambezi region from 30 March to 2 April 2018,” said Netball Namibia public relations officer Rebekka Goagoses.
“The board of Netball Namibia (NN), the entire netball fraternity and the girl-child are very thankful for the awesome opportunity provided by The Namibian Newspaper Cup, supported by Nedbank,” she said.
Goagoses added that every region is expected to enter a team consisting of 12 players, a team manager, head coach and assistant coach, the regional secretary general and chairperson, who will head the delegation.
“In terms of eligibility for selection and participation in The Namibian Newspaper Cup netball tournament, the players to be selected should have been born on or before 31 December 1999.
Players will be required to provide certified copies of full-birth certificates, national identity documents or passports,” she explained.
The tournament will be structured into four group stages, followed by knock-out rounds in the quarter and semi-finals, and thereafter the third/fourth play-off before the final takes place.
In addition, NN will hold a general meeting, umpires workshop, team managers’ meeting and coaching clinic for all regional coaches on the sidelines of The Namibian Newspaper Cup.
“We are inviting the people of the Zambezi region to come in numbers to witness top-drawer netball action during the period of The Namibian Newspaper Cup,” Goagoses added.
