Netball clubs Wanderers Netball Club, Mighty Gunners, Okamwandi United and Smart Girls have secured their places in the MTC Netball Namibia Premier League following an exciting weekend of action at the Khomasdal Netball Courts.
Wanderers head coach Erica van Zyl said the team is grateful to return to the top tier after a challenging previous season.
“The Wannies took a big knock last year when half of the players in the team stopped playing after the first round. We had to replace them with lower division players and start from scratch in the second round. It was not an easy task, but we trained hard since January and promised ourselves that we would not be relegated,” she said.
Van Zyl added that changes in players’ personal circumstances affected the squad, but also created opportunities for new talent.
“Many players got married and didn’t want to travel and be away from their husbands, but this is a chance for new players to come in and showcase their talent,” she explained.
Mighty Gunners head coach Hilma Davids attributed their success to the squad’s commitment during the playoffs.
“The players gave their A-game throughout the playoffs. We will come back even stronger for the new season,” she said.
Okamwandi United coach Stage Nambahu said the team’s promotion was the result of long-term preparation.
“We have been preparing since April last year for the playoffs. We wanted to showcase our talent and even played tournaments throughout December. We also thank our sponsors for their support,” he said.
Nambahu added that the team has several promising players who could potentially progress to the national team.
The four newly promoted teams will now compete alongside established sides such as Namibia Correctional Service, Otjozondjupa Nampol, Unam Ogongo Netball Club, Afrocat Lions, Namibian Navy, Tigers, Eastern Chiefs and Extreme in the upcoming Premier League season.