Talent and goals on

APART from the young under-20 male footballers and tons of goals, skill and talent in store at The Namibian Newspaper Cup over the Easter weekend in Keetmanshoop, there will also be plenty of action from their female counterparts.

An Invitational under-20 women’s football team set to play a visiting side from Northern Cape, South Africa, it was announced yesterday. A regional Karas women’s football side will also be in action against the same team from South Africa, while on the last day of the competition, a joint Namibian women’s team will take on their Northern Cape counterparts, who will be travelling with two teams.The invitational women’s side consists of some key players who have represented the Brave Gladiators on international level, while some have been drafted into the squad for the first time.The invitational side is well represented regionally and some of the key players include goalkeeper Bonnita Eixas, defenders Stacey Naris, Queen Manga and Susanna Eises.The midfielders who will anchor the side will include Juliana Skrywer and Leandri Lucas, while the striking force will be led by Mary Jacobs, the only survivor upfront from the recent Gladiators side that toured DRC.Namibia Football Association (NFA) executive member Jackey Gertze said most of the players who did duty for Namibia in the African Nations Cup qualifier are over the age of 20 and the selectors decided to take bring in younger players.The under-20 Invitational team will be under the guidance of Gladiators coach Jacqui Shipanga, while Gebhard Amukwata will be the team manager.There are eight players from the Khomas Region in the invitational side, three from Hardap, two from Erongo, two from Otjozondjupa, two from Kavango, one from Karas and one from Oshikoto.The invitational under-20 team will meet the Northern Cape side on Saturday at 15h00, while the Karas Regional team will face the South Africans the following day at the same time.A joint Namibian female team will wrap up the football fiesta with another exhibition match against the Northern Cape side which will be played on Monday at 09h00.In other exhibition matches, a selected Namibian Newspaper Cup XI will meet the Northern Cape men’s team on Saturday at 17h00, while the Brave Warriors will face what could be a tough Shadow Team on Sunday evening at 17h00.The first match starts at 09h00 on Friday, with two-time champions Omaheke taking on Oshikoto, while Khomas, who are also double winners, tackle Ohangwena in the second match at 11h00.The final of the competition will be played on Monday at 13h00, but before that, there will also be a final for the losers at 11h00.Entrance is free.A regional Karas women’s football side will also be in action against the same team from South Africa, while on the last day of the competition, a joint Namibian women’s team will take on their Northern Cape counterparts, who will be travelling with two teams.The invitational women’s side consists of some key players who have represented the Brave Gladiators on international level, while some have been drafted into the squad for the first time.The invitational side is well represented regionally and some of the key players include goalkeeper Bonnita Eixas, defenders Stacey Naris, Queen Manga and Susanna Eises.The midfielders who will anchor the side will include Juliana Skrywer and Leandri Lucas, while the striking force will be led by Mary Jacobs, the only survivor upfront from the recent Gladiators side that toured DRC.Namibia Football Association (NFA) executive member Jackey Gertze said most of the players who did duty for Namibia in the African Nations Cup qualifier are over the age of 20 and the selectors decided to take bring in younger players.The under-20 Invitational team will be under the guidance of Gladiators coach Jacqui Shipanga, while Gebhard Amukwata will be the team manager.There are eight players from the Khomas Region in the invitational side, three from Hardap, two from Erongo, two from Otjozondjupa, two from Kavango, one from Karas and one from Oshikoto.The invitational under-20 team will meet the Northern Cape side on Saturday at 15h00, while the Karas Regional team will face the South Africans the following day at the same time.A joint Namibian female team will wrap up the football fiesta with another exhibition match against the Northern Cape side which will be played on Monday at 09h00.In other exhibition matches, a selected Namibian Newspaper Cup XI will meet the Northern Cape men’s team on Saturday at 17h00, while the Brave Warriors will face what could be a tough Shadow Team on Sunday evening at 17h00.The first match starts at 09h00 on Friday, with two-time champions Omaheke taking on Oshikoto, while Khomas, who are also double winners, tackle Ohangwena in the second match at 11h00.The final of the competition will be played on Monday at 13h00, but before that, there will also be a final for the losers at 11h00.Entrance is free.