Women shine at Newspaper Cup

WINDHOEK – Despite the visit of the men’s and women’s Northern Cape soccer sides falling through, Namibian women soccer players gave a good account of themselves during The Namibian Newspaper Cup in Keetmanshoop over the Easter weekend.

NFA Women’s football co-ordinator Jackey Gertze yesterday said that the South African players were denied entry into Namibia due to a problem with documents. However, the show continued with the Karas women’s team playing against the Namibian under-20 invitational side.The strong invitational side hammered the Karas girls 7-0.The invitational side had six national team players while the much younger Karas side had three national team players.Gertze said the invitational side was selected in preparation for the game against the South Africans.She applauded the organisers of the tournament for the opportunity to showcase women’s football to the nation, saying the women’s game received tremendous exposure during the event.According to Gertze, the time and venue was perfect, as the women played just before the match between the Brave Warriors and the Shadow Team, which was attended by a big crowd.Comments she received after the game were also very heartening, with some people saying they were impressed with the level of women’s game.Others were delighted to see the women’s tactical skills as well as their passing-game.After the women’s match, one of the technical members of the Caprivi team asked Gertze to assist them in establishing women’s soccer in their region.Gertze enthused that it was evident that the Karas women had improved over the past year because of the league that is up and running in their region.She added that the event also gave national team selectors an opportunity to scout for talent and a large number of girls were selected to undertake a national tour to the northern regions and to the Erongo Region in June this year.NampaHowever, the show continued with the Karas women’s team playing against the Namibian under-20 invitational side.The strong invitational side hammered the Karas girls 7-0.The invitational side had six national team players while the much younger Karas side had three national team players.Gertze said the invitational side was selected in preparation for the game against the South Africans.She applauded the organisers of the tournament for the opportunity to showcase women’s football to the nation, saying the women’s game received tremendous exposure during the event.According to Gertze, the time and venue was perfect, as the women played just before the match between the Brave Warriors and the Shadow Team, which was attended by a big crowd.Comments she received after the game were also very heartening, with some people saying they were impressed with the level of women’s game.Others were delighted to see the women’s tactical skills as well as their passing-game.After the women’s match, one of the technical members of the Caprivi team asked Gertze to assist them in establishing women’s soccer in their region.Gertze enthused that it was evident that the Karas women had improved over the past year because of the league that is up and running in their region.She added that the event also gave national team selectors an opportunity to scout for talent and a large number of girls were selected to undertake a national tour to the northern regions and to the Erongo Region in June this year.Nampa