Under 20 netballers ready for 2006 Youth Games

WINDHOEK – The national under-20 netball side is hard at work preparing for the 2006 Zone Six Youth Games billed for the capital in about two weeks.

The girls have trained together since April 8 and have become a good combination, said coach Andrew !Hoaeb. !Hoaeb told Nampa during one of the team’s friendly matches at the weekend that the girls are willing to learn and are working hard.The under-20’s have won three friendly matches against senior teams so far and are sure of more victories against other stronger opposition as they continued their preparations for the Youth Games, said !Hoaeb.He said the girls were the best the regions could offer after they were selected during trials in March in Rundu.Although the coach foresees South Africa and Malawi as their toughest opponents, he could see his team winning the overall competition.Four of the girls already have national team experience and !Hoaeb would rely on them to pull through the wagon.One of them is current captain Jatjinda Kambatuku from the Omaheke Region.She told Nampa that they have been training a lot and their fitness was up to standard.Kambatuku said the spirit in the camp was high and there was good co-operation and communication among the players.She did not fear South Africa but was worried about Malawi and Botswana whom she said performed well during the first Youth Games in Mozambique in 2004 and again during the Confederation of School Sports Associations of Southern Africa (COSSASA) Ball Games in 2005.The players will be in the training camp until June 22 when they join other Namibian teams at the athletes’ village situated on the University of Namibia (Unam) campus.The netball competitions are set to take place at the Katutura Youth Complex from June 27 to July 4.Namibia has drawn against Zambia in their first match.The other teams in Pool 1 are Angola, who will play against Lesotho, while Malawi received a bye to the next round.In Pool 2, South Africa will face Botswana, while Tanzania and Zimbabwe will fight out matters on the first day.Swaziland also received a bye to the next round.The other codes are track and field, basketball, football, tennis and boxing.- Nampa!Hoaeb told Nampa during one of the team’s friendly matches at the weekend that the girls are willing to learn and are working hard.The under-20’s have won three friendly matches against senior teams so far and are sure of more victories against other stronger opposition as they continued their preparations for the Youth Games, said !Hoaeb.He said the girls were the best the regions could offer after they were selected during trials in March in Rundu.Although the coach foresees South Africa and Malawi as their toughest opponents, he could see his team winning the overall competition.Four of the girls already have national team experience and !Hoaeb would rely on them to pull through the wagon.One of them is current captain Jatjinda Kambatuku from the Omaheke Region.She told Nampa that they have been training a lot and their fitness was up to standard.Kambatuku said the spirit in the camp was high and there was good co-operation and communication among the players.She did not fear South Africa but was worried about Malawi and Botswana whom she said performed well during the first Youth Games in Mozambique in 2004 and again during the Confederation of School Sports Associations of Southern Africa (COSSASA) Ball Games in 2005.The players will be in the training camp until June 22 when they join other Namibian teams at the athletes’ village situated on the University of Namibia (Unam) campus.The netball competitions are set to take place at the Katutura Youth Complex from June 27 to July 4.Namibia has drawn against Zambia in their first match.The other teams in Pool 1 are Angola, who will play against Lesotho, while Malawi received a bye to the next round.In Pool 2, South Africa will face Botswana, while Tanzania and Zimbabwe will fight out matters on the first day.Swaziland also received a bye to the next round.The other codes are track and field, basketball, football, tennis and boxing.- Nampa