After leading his team to victory at the 2026 Nedbank Namibian Newspaper Cup, Kavango East U/20 regional netball team head coach Frans Ndara believes more men should explore opportunities in netball.

Ndara, a professional teacher and retired footballer, has been instrumental in the team’s success, guiding them to win the title for two consecutive years in what is traditionally a female-dominated sport.

Hailing from Shamvhura village, Ndara developed an interest in netball seven years ago after noticing that girls in his community were often neglected on the sports field. His intervention has already begun to bear fruit, with two players from Shamvhura earning spots on the regional netball team over the past two years.

“During football training, I noticed how the girls were always left unattended, so I took the responsibility of assisting them. This granted me an opportunity to attend an umpire’s training course in 2023 to learn more about the rules of the game,” said Ndara.

He credits his passion for sport as a driving force behind the team’s achievements, including their first victory in 2025 and their most recent triumph in April 2026. Following the back-to-back wins, Ndara expressed pride in becoming the first coach in the region to accomplish this feat since the tournament’s inception.

One of his standout players, Martha Mununga, who has been selected for the national team, attributes her success to Ndara’s leadership. She highlighted his consistent encouragement and belief in the team’s potential.

“He always motivates us to work hard and reminds us that with sport, anything is possible,” said Mununga.

She added that she is grateful for the opportunity to represent the nation and is currently preparing for upcoming national duties. At club level, she plays for Smart Girls Netball Club.

Ndara believes that men can play a meaningful role in the development of netball and hopes to see more male involvement in the sport.

“I have already seen some men playing netball; some are coaches and others are umpires, so there is definitely room for more men in the netball space,” he said.

Looking ahead, Ndara has set his sights on securing a third consecutive title next year.

Before transitioning into netball, Ndara played for his home team, Ntunguru Football Club, and later had a short stint with Rundu-based United Stars Football Club.

*Joseph Kamata is an information officer at MICT Kavango East.