WINDHOEK – The shortlisting of Brave Gladiators playmaker Zenatha Coleman as one of the finalists for the 2014 Confederation of African Football (CAF) Women Footballer of the Year award speaks volumes as to how far local football has grown.
This week CAF announced that Coleman, and Nigeria’s Desire Oparanozie and Asisat Oshoala, Cameroon’s Annette Ngo Ndom and Portia Modise of South Africa have been shortlisted for the 2014 African Women’s Footballer of the Year award.
Head of Women Football at the Namibia Football Association (NFA) Jacqui Gertze says this recognition means Namibian women football has really grown to a point of continental appreciation.
“This is great for Zenatha and for Namibia but it is even much greater for women football in Namibia. This is special. It is clear testimony of the work done in Namibian women football. Also a clear indication that our players have grown into mature competitors at international level,” Gertze says.
Gertze adds that Zenatha is a great player who works very hard and is loved by her teammates.
“She never gives up, she always wants to play, she cries when she loses a match but above all, she is a great team player, therefore she is loved by her team mates and gets a lot of support from all of them.”
She adds: “I think Zenatha stood out above even players with more experience in the top teams at African level, and such recognition is a huge motivation for NFA and Zenatha to go on, focus, and continue to grow her football. We are really happy for her.”
Gertze will lead a delegation of under-20s partaking in the COSAFA U/20 champs in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe from December 05-09.
Coleman was instrumental in Namibia’s group stage performance and was the favourite of the fans that packed the Sam Nujoma Stadium whenever the Gladiators took to the pitch. She scored in Namibia’s 3-1 Group A defeat to Ivory Coast, a beautiful free-kick that is still talked about all over.
The winners will be announced at the Glo-Caf Awards Gala scheduled for Thursday, January 8, 2015 in Lagos, Nigeria.
By Staff Reporter