A young women’s hockey squad of 20 players has been selected in preparation for the Africa u21 Junior World Cup qualifying tournament that’s due to be held in Accra, Ghana from 22 to 28 March, 2021.
The Namibian squad has an average age of 17,5, while the two youngest players are still only 15 years old, but coach Melissa Gillies said she was excited about their potential.
“It’s a very young squad, but it’s a lovely, athletic team which is nicely balanced. The payers are very versatile and theres a lot of flexibility and interchangeability of positions,” she said, adding:
“The players know each other very well and I think this team has got what it takes to make the World Cup.”
Gillies, however, said a lot of work still lay ahead.
“We have started with base training and the girls’ fitness levels are quite good, but there is still a lot of work ahead on their conditioning and fitness. Our goal is to be top-fit, because we have a good chance to qualify for the World Cup,” she said.
“We also have a strong technical team with Neville Gora the assistant coach for both the women and men’s u21 squads,” she added.
Club champions Saints dominate the squad with 12 out of the 20 players, while DTS has four, Windhoek Old Boys three and one from the coast.
Despite its youthful age the squad has quite a bit of experience, with five members having represented the senior side at the 2019 Afcon tournament in Stellenbosch.
They are attacking midfielder Kiana Cormack, who also starred at the 2018 World Cup; Tara Myburgh, Cele Wessels, Jahntwa Kruger and Joane van Rooyen, while others like Danja Meyer and Amber Dercksen also played for Namibia against Zambia two years ago.
At the age of 15, Jaime Gillies and Caitlin Coetzer are the two youngest players in the squad, but Gillies backed them to do well.
“They both have a lot of potential and Caitlin scored a great goal during the trial matches. They just need to gain more experience, while we will try and build up their confidence,” she said.
Another newcomer to the squad, Mikayla Bosman from the coast, also drew praise from Gillies:
“Mikayla is a lovely little player – she’s very fiesty and passionate and although she might lack a bit of exposure, I’m hoping that we will find another gear in her.”
With South Africa already having qualified for the 2021 u21 World Cup since they will host the tournament in Potchefstroom later this year, the Accra tournament will be wide open as Africa’s next best battle it out for a second continental spot.
Countries like the hosts Ghana, Kenya and Zimbabwe will, however, provide tough competition. They all beat Namibia at the 2019 senior Afcon tournament and Gillies isn’t taking them lightly.
“The African teams traditionally have hard-running girls, so we will have to be top-fit if we hope to qualify for the World Cup,” she said.
Gillies added that the huge costs of the tour might prevent some of the players from going along and called on potential sponsors for their support.
“It will cost a lot, and each player will have to raise about N$20 000 to be able to go, so we would greatly appreciate any sponsors. Both the girls and the boys teams stand a great chance of qualifying for the World Cup, so it would be a shame if they can’t go,” she said.
The Namibian u21 women’s squad is as follows:
Sanet Crous, Jaimie Henckert, Amber Dercksen, Sascha Brinkmann, Kiana Cormack, Tara Myburgh, Azaylee Philander, Danja Meyer, Jo-ane van Rooyen, Carien van Rooyen, Haylee Schickerling and Caitlin Coetzer (all Saints), Cele Wessels, Anthea Coetzee, Jaime Gillies and Caitlin Gillies (DTS), Armin van Staden, Jahntwa Kruger and Kaela Schimming (WOB), and Mikayla Bosman (coast).
