Women hockey squad called

THE Namibian Hockey Union announced a squad of 28 senior national women’s team players who are expected to prepare for the Olympic qualifying tournament to be held in Kenya July next year.

Six other players were short-listed. Namibia is currently ranked fourth in Africa and 38th in the World.The training camps will start on October 7 and will carry on until February 24 next year, the date on which the trials will be held.Nineteen of the players in the squad have represented Namibia on senior level and 25 have been coached by women’s hockey coach Erwin Handura.Handura announced that club coaches are urged to motivate their players to take this venture extremely seriously and to attend all training camps.”Only Namibian-based players are selected to ensure maximum attendance at the four training camps and players that are not available for the camps or for the national team next year must put it in writing to the coach (Handura) before Monday,” he said.Handura further said that students in South Africa or overseas will be considered at the national trials and will join the training camps while in Namibia on holidays.He said players who are writing exams would be excused, but only by making prior arrangements.He encouraged the players to be totally committed during the training camps and said they should regard their inclusion in the training camp as an honour and should strive to give their best for the country.The senior women’s side made history last year when they took a bronze medal during the African Cup of Nations tournament held in South Africa.The squad was announced as follows: Goalkeepers – 1.Josefina Khaibes (UNAM) 2.Maegen Offner (DTS) 3.Emsie Skrywer (Wanderers) 4.Nicole Botha (U/16 & WHS 2nd Team / Wanderers) Defenders – 5.Mandi Lessing (Wanderers) 6.Irene Handura (UNAM) 7.Christella Swartbooi (UNAM) 8.Elaine Kruger (WOBSC) 9.Kara Scheepers (WOBSC) 10.Maike Prickett (Wanderers) 11.Michelle de Villiers (WOBSC) 12.Handrie Calitz (Wanderers) 13.Gizela Hiskia (UNAM) Midfielders – 14.Madelyn Lessing (Wanderers) 15.Merilyn Nanus (UNAM) 16.Charlize van der Linde (DTS) 17.Jerrica Cormack (WOBSC) 18.Theodora Amutjira (UNAM) 19.Andrea Beiter (DTS) 20.Juane Louw (Wanderers) 21.Benita Farmer (Wanderers) 22.Tanya Lumley (Wanderers) 23.Leandre Huisamen (Wanderers) 24.Cashni du Plessis (UNAM) Forwards – 25.Chantele de Gouveia (WOBSC) 26.Frieda Kalondo(DTS) 27.Carla Venter (Sparta) 28.Tania Groenewald (WOBSC) Short-listed – 1.Yoandra Kotze (Wanderers) Forward 2.Latoya Ngavetene (UNAM) Forward 3.Michelle Le Roux (WOBSC) Forward 4.Marsha Venter (WOBSC) Mid / Defender 5.Nikki Malherbe (Wanderers) 6.Kapelina Kapwanga (WOBSC) Handura can be reached at 081 124 8249Namibia is currently ranked fourth in Africa and 38th in the World.The training camps will start on October 7 and will carry on until February 24 next year, the date on which the trials will be held.Nineteen of the players in the squad have represented Namibia on senior level and 25 have been coached by women’s hockey coach Erwin Handura.Handura announced that club coaches are urged to motivate their players to take this venture extremely seriously and to attend all training camps.”Only Namibian-based players are selected to ensure maximum attendance at the four training camps and players that are not available for the camps or for the national team next year must put it in writing to the coach (Handura) before Monday,” he said.Handura further said that students in South Africa or overseas will be considered at the national trials and will join the training camps while in Namibia on holidays.He said players who are writing exams would be excused, but only by making prior arrangements.He encouraged the players to be totally committed during the training camps and said they should regard their inclusion in the training camp as an honour and should strive to give their best for the country.The senior women’s side made history last year when they took a bronze medal during the African Cup of Nations tournament held in South Africa.The squad was announced as follows: Goalkeepers – 1.Josefina Khaibes (UNAM) 2.Maegen Offner (DTS) 3.Emsie Skrywer (Wanderers) 4.Nicole Botha (U/16 & WHS 2nd Team / Wanderers) Defenders – 5.Mandi Lessing (Wanderers) 6.Irene Handura (UNAM) 7.Christella Swartbooi (UNAM) 8.Elaine Kruger (WOBSC) 9.Kara Scheepers (WOBSC) 10.Maike Prickett (Wanderers) 11.Michelle de Villiers (WOBSC) 12.Handrie Calitz (Wanderers) 13.Gizela Hiskia (UNAM) Midfielders – 14.Madelyn Lessing (Wanderers) 15.Merilyn Nanus (UNAM) 16.Charlize van der Linde (DTS) 17.Jerrica Cormack (WOBSC) 18.Theodora Amutjira (UNAM) 19.Andrea Beiter (DTS) 20.Juane Louw (Wanderers) 21.Benita Farmer (Wanderers) 22.Tanya Lumley (Wanderers) 23.Leandre Huisamen (Wanderers) 24.Cashni du Plessis (UNAM) Forwards – 25.Chantele de Gouveia (WOBSC) 26.Frieda Kalondo(DTS) 27.Carla Venter (Sparta) 28.Tania Groenewald (WOBSC) Short-listed – 1.Yoandra Kotze (Wanderers) Forward 2.Latoya Ngavetene (UNAM) Forward 3.Michelle Le Roux (WOBSC) Forward 4.Marsha Venter (WOBSC) Mid / Defender 5.Nikki Malherbe (Wanderers) 6.Kapelina Kapwanga (WOBSC) Handura can be reached at 081 124 8249