The Under-19 netball team selected during the 2026 Newspaper Cup will remain unchanged following a meeting between the Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sport, Arts and Culture and Netball Namibia (NN) on 17 April.
The meeting was convened after concerns were raised by various stakeholders regarding the selection process of the national U/19 team earmarked for the AUSC Region 5 Youth Games.
According to a media statement issued by the ministry, NN provided a detailed account of the selection process during the engagement, outlining the procedures and criteria used to identify players during the Newspaper Cup tournament.
Following the discussions, it was resolved that the team selected at the 2026 Newspaper Cup would remain intact and continue into the next phase of trials.
The ministry said the selected players will now compete alongside regional teams comprising seven players each, as part of the ongoing process to finalise the squad for the regional games.
In addition, a few athletes from the NN database who are eligible for the AUSC Region 5 Youth Games will also be introduced into the process. These players have previously met the required selection criteria and have demonstrated commendable sportsmanship.
“The move is aimed at broadening the pool of talent available to selectors while ensuring fairness and competitiveness ahead of the regional competition.
“The AUSC Region 5 Youth Games are regarded as a key development platform for young athletes across Southern Africa and serve as an important stepping stone for future senior national team players.
“The ministry further noted that trial dates will be held in May, with the exact dates and related arrangements to be announced in due course,” read the statement.
The engagement between the ministry and NN comes amid heightened public interest in youth team selections, particularly for regional and international competitions, where opportunities to represent the country are highly sought after.