Not only does the MTC HopSol Youth League continue to produce Namibia’s rising soccer talents, but administrators and officials are advancing their educational backgrounds.
One such official is Angala Hertha Ndakulilwa, who recently completed her Nursing degree after four years of study.
Ndakulilwa was raided in Epumbu village, Okahao constituency, where she attended primary school at Oshukwa Primary School. She then proceeded with her education at Shaanika Nashilongo High School in the same constituency.
She started officiating the HopSol league in 2020. “During high school, I participated in women’s soccer and netball too, receiving more than seven Player of the Match awards and serving as a captain for the Women’s Soccer League since my matric,” she said.
Ndakulilwa said the love for football started at a very young age and was fascinated by how the game brings people together and how much passion it carries worldwide. “Compared to other sports, soccer stood out to me because it requires not only physical strength but also skill, teamwork, strategy, and creativity with the ball. Unlike some other codes, all you need is a ball and space, which made it easy for me to play and enjoy from the start. The energy of the game, the atmosphere, and the way it connects people across cultures made me fall in love with it.”
“I played for Okahao Football Club and continued as a captain for Okahao Football Club and subsequently played as a striker for V Power Angels when I moved to Windhoek,” she explained.
She mentioned that her studies took some determination and willpower, as juggling it all came down to time management. “It was not easy juggling studying and officiating games because both demanded a lot from me. There were times I had assignments due while also having to prepare for matches over the weekend. Both required a lot of commitment and focus. However, I learned to manage my time better, stay disciplined, and balance my priorities. In the end, it taught me responsibility and improved my ability to perform under pressure.”
Ndakulilwa mentioned that being a referee is not an easy task as some may see it because it comes with it’s own challenges. “Managing a game is the hardest thing ever. Buy it comes in different ways. With the young ones, the challenge is that they may not fully understand the rules, so you have to be patient and almost play the role of a teacher while still keeping the match fair. With the elder players, the temper is very high and emotions run very high, so managing discipline and respect becomes the key,” she said.
Her first refereeing match was between Arrows Ladies and Unam FC, which presented significant challenges from the crowd, the coaches, and the name-calling, but that started sharpening her.
“In refereeing, every decision is scrutinised, and you have to stay calm under pressure while keeping full control of the game. Balancing fairness, authority, and empathy across these different groups is what makes refereeing challenging but also rewarding,” she ended.
-slunyangwe@nepc.com.na