The national under-23 women’s team and the Brave Gladiators shadow team are itching for action at The Namibian Newspaper Cup which will be held over Easter in Outjo.
The two teams will clash in what is expected to be an enthralling exhibition of women’s football at the Outjo Stadium on Sunday, 5 April.
“The girls are always excited to be part of the Newspaper Cup and would like to show the beautiful side of the game,” according national women’s teams coach Jacqui Shipanga.
Shipanga said the match was crucial in helping maintain momentum, physical fitness and match sharpness in the wake of the Brave Gladiators 6-2 thrashing of Swaziland in friendly international on Saturday.
Most of the under-23 players are Brave Gladiators regulars which left the technical team with a dilemma in naming two balanced sides.
The U-23s will be captained by Thomalina ‘Pele’ Adams, while the shadow team will be led by Anoushka ‘China’ Kordom, a Grade 12 pupil at Eldorado Secondary School.
The majority of the players from the shadow team are graduates of the fabled Galz and Goals programme and are still part of the U-20 side setup.
The team will also feature new kid on the block Victoria Haushona from Ohangwena region, who was discovered only recently during the NFA Women’s Desk Talent Identification Cup.
Sixteen-year old Millicent Hikuam, who did not get an opportunity to play against Swaziland due to injury, will finally get her chance to show off her ability.
Meanwhile, featuring for the U-23 side will be exciting forward Juliana Skrywer from the Brave Gladiators who recently excelled as a left-winger against Swaziland.
Better known as Poppies, the stocky Skrywer surprised Shipanga by rising highest to net a brilliant headed goal.
She is vying for a regular berth in the position against Vistorine ‘Mussasa’ Shangula, a natural left footer who contributed to two goals by outpacing her opponents and whipping in brilliant crosses.
“She did excellently in a position that has been the achilles heel of women’s football for years and that cost us dearly during the AWC 2014,” said Shipanga, who encourages healthy competition amongst her players.
On the coaching front, Shipanga will watch from the sidelines and will let her two assistants, Brian Isaacs and Ace Komeya take the reigns.
They will be assisted by Brave Gladiators captain Mammie Kasaona, an aspiring coach who has ambitions of taking charge of the national side in the future, and Mervin Mbakera, who led his youthful U-17 Galz and Goals side to the finals of the Talent Identification Tournament.
