Brave Gladiators coach Jaqueline Shipanga on Thursday morning announced her final 21-women squad for the upcoming ninth edition of the TN Mobile CAF Women Championship which plays in Windhoek, Namibia from 11 to 25 October.
During a media conference held at the Namibia Football Association (NFA), there were no surprises in the final squad with the regulars making the final cut such as captain and defender Uerikondjera Kasaona, the mercurial playmaker Zenatha Coleman and the combative midfielder Thomalina Adams.
Shipanga said they had 24 players in camp for the championship and that it was not easy to settle on the final 21.
“Like I said before, I worked with these girls for so many years, I know what they can do and they all deserve to be around, but the rules are clear and we can only have 21 players. But we have also shortlisted two players, namely Anna Shikesho and Novata Paulus, who will be ready to ship in if there are injuries to any of the 21 players before the competition starts,” Shipanga said.
The other player not in the final 21 is Rehoboth Queens’ Natasha Ndjao.
Shipanga also sang the praises of the commitment shown by some senior players. “Stella (Rita Williams) and Elmarie Fredericks have shown hunger and desire to be in the team and they made the squad – they have the experience to add value to the team,” she said.
Head of the NFA Women Department Jacky Gertze was excited about the situation as well:
“We have been around with this team in preparation for this competition for about eight months and it was never easy as some are in school and at work, but we have managed and thanks to the government for committing N$7 million for that process which has brought us here today. It is a great moment and we have entrusted the coach with selecting the players that can do the job and I have no doubt these 21 will do us proud,” she said.
Renowned local coaches Bobby Samaria, Willem Kapukare, Timo Tjongarero, Ricardo Mannetti and Bernard Kaanjuka were announced as members of the Technical Advisory Committee which will be headed by the NFA Technical Director Klaus Starke.
The Brave Gladiators will play a friendly match against Algeria at the Sam Nujoma Stadium on Saturday, 4 October at 17h00 with public entrance free of charge. The host will then open the tournament against Zambia at the same venue and time on Saturday, 11 October.
Here is the Brave Gladiators squad:
Goalkeepers: Lydia Eixas, Agnes Kauzuu and Susanna Eises.
Defenders: Uerikondjera Kasaona, Iina Katuta, Twelikondjela Amukoto, Stacey Naris, Lorraine Jossob, Ester Amukwaya and Veweziwa Kotjipati.
Midfielders: Lena Noreses, Annouscka Kordom, Juliana Skrywer, Thomalina Adams, Zenatha Coleman, Memory Ngonda, Shirley Cloete and Lovisa Mulunga.
Strikers: Vistoria Shangula, Rita Williams and Elmarie Fredericks. – nfa.org.na
