From the courts of Windhoek, a young Rebekka Goagoses once stood barefoot, shouting orders and orchestrating plays among schoolmates. 

Fast forward to 2025, and she now stands at the helm of Africa Netball since April, a continental sports body representing over 20 countries, proving that dreams rooted in hard work can grow into legacies of leadership. 

As acting president of Africa Netball, Goagoses has not only assumed a title; she has inherited a mission. And from day one, she’s been moving with intentional force. 

Since taking up office, Goagoses has wasted no time reshaping the narrative around netball in Africa. Under her stewardship, the organisation will host its largest-ever Africa Netball Leadership Summit and Annual General Meeting, uniting federation leaders from across the continent. This is where they will launch the first ever Africa Netball strategic plan (2025 to 2030). 

“This roadmap isn’t just a document. It’s a commitment to growth, professionalism, and impact. We’re not just playing netball; we’re building futures.” 

Her international advocacy will also be felt at the World Netball Congress in mid- September, where African interests will be represented, pushing for more funding, equitable representation, and inclusion of emerging nations on the global stage. 

Leadership at this level comes with deep, structural challenges. Africa Netball’s member federations of ten grapple with poor infrastructure, minimal resources, and fragile governance. 

“Some federations don’t even have basic data systems. You can’t manage what you don’t measure,” Goagoses notes. 

To address this, she introduced digital reporting tools and spearheaded plans for the first Impact and Progress Report a landmark step toward transparency and accountability. 

On the financial front, she’s helped develop a commercial strategy focused on brand alignment and social impact, pushing for inclusion of netball in national sports budgets and school curricula across Africa. “We’re not begging. We’re showing our value,” she says firmly. 

Preparing for Africa Netball Cup All eyes are now on Lilongwe, Malawi, where the Africa Netball Cup is set to kick off this December. With nine countries confirmed to compete: including both male and female teams, the tournament is poised to be a continental celebration of athletic excellence and unity. 

Despite funding and logistical hurdles, Goagoses remains confident. “We proved we can host world-class events,” she says, referencing Namibia’s successful staging of the 2024 edition in Swakopmund. “Now, with Malawi’s hospitality and our strategic guidance, we’re going to raise the bar.” 

Importantly, she’s working hard to ensure smaller or less-resourced nations also have a place at the table, through mentorship, observer status, and grassroots development support. 

“We don’t just want participation, we want sustainable growth,” she asserts. 

Goagoses’s leadership extends far beyond policy, it is deeply personal. The Africa Netball Cup is not just a sporting event; it is a platform to showcase emerging female talent, inspire young girls, and uplift entire communities. 

“Athletes like Cornelia Mupenda show us what’s possible. We need more of those stories, and we will create them.” 

The cup serves as a launchpad for broader goals, including the Africa Netball Super League, a proposed professional Pan- African competition, and a U/21 and U/19 circuit to build future stars. Scholarships, global exchange programmes, and coaching pathways are all part of her vision. 

As a Namibian, Goagoses brings a unique perspective, grounded in community, shaped by struggle, and forged in local leadership. Her time as Netball Namibia president prepared her to lead with empathy, vision, and tenacity. 

“I am from a place where we had to build with very little. That’s taught me how to lead with both heart and strategy,” she reflects. 

When asked what she wants to be remembered for, her answer is powerful in its simplicity: “Not for what I built, but for who I lifted.” She wants her tenure to be a mirror for young girls in villages and cities alike, to see themselves not just as athletes, but as leaders, administrators, and changemakers. “My presence is not just about visibility, it’s about possibility.” 

-lmupetami@nepc.com.na