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Arrows Ladies: empowering women, one goal at a time

Arrows Ladies: empowering women, one goal at a time

Arrows Ladies Football Club official partner and a physiotherapist, Munashe Chinyama, has been instrumental in driving the club’s ambition to become self-sufficient. 

As the club embarks on a journey to elevate women’s football in Namibia and to support its players, Chinyama shares their ongoing efforts to build a sustainable future for Arrows Ladies.

Since its formation in 2019 by the passionate Salmon Nakale, known in football circles as coach Eto’o, Arrows Ladies has been a force to reckon with. 

The club, competing in the FNB Namibia Women’s Super League (WSL), has quickly established itself as a household name. With two football academies in the Khomas and Erongo regions for U/17 girls, the club’s success has been built on discipline, fitness and teamwork.

In a bold move to grow its brand, the club has heavily invested in rebranding. This includes acquiring new playing and casual apparel for the players, unveiling a new club logo, and stepping up its social media presence on platforms such as Instagram and Facebook. The club’s visibility has grown, allowing it to connect with fans and supporters across Namibia and beyond.

The club has recently also managed to secure cosmetics and toiletries including sanitary pads, from orthopedic surgeon Dr Takunda Majojo for the next two months. 

One of the most exciting projects on the horizon for Arrows Ladies is a documentary that will chronicle the club’s journey of triumph and hard work. The film will not only showcase the team’s successes on the pitch, but also highlight the club’s mission to empower the girl child. 

“The documentary will serve as proof to the hard work and dedication that has shaped the club into what it is today – an institution dedicated to giving young girls the opportunity to showcase their talents,” he said.

Chinyama added that Arrows Ladies is not just about football, but also about holistic development. They recently launched a massive social upliftment initiative, focusing on improving the lives of players on and off the field. All players receive support in various ways, from education and life skills to vocational training. The club’s aim is to equip the players with skills that will enable them to earn a living and secure employment.

“Among the players benefiting from these programmes are five university students. Elsabie Whitey Rennecke, studying Chartered Accounting at the Namibia University of Science and Technology, has earned a Bank of Namibia bursary. Selma Enkali, pursuing Business Administration at the International University of Management, and Laimi Iyaloo Jakob, who is studying Information Systems at the University of Namibia, have also secured part-time administrative jobs at Windhoek High Performance Physiotherapy, a practice owned by Chinyama.

In addition to academic and vocational support, the club has introduced a unique model to help players develop skills that could generate income. 

“For example, two players – Patricia Tobias and Loide Immanuel – have shown exceptional talent in hairdressing. To help them turn this skill into a livelihood, Arrows Ladies has created an affordable N$100 hairdressing package. The players can provide these services from home and keep the proceeds, helping them with their day-to-day expenses.

“Other players are also receiving support through part-time jobs and scholarships for courses at the Windhoek Vocational Training Centre. This model, which is part of the club’s long-term vision for 2026, is designed to ensure that no player is left behind, whether they have a passion for football or a skill in another field,” shared Chinyama.

Vice-captain of the club, Jekohasana Kamatjipose, is another example of the club’s commitment to empowering its players. Having secured a full-time job at Chinyama’s physiotherapy practice, Kamatjipose is working towards supplementing her academic qualifications at the Namibia College of Open learning (Namcol)before pursuing a university placement. 

Arrows Ladies’ focus on education, life skills, and career development for players has already started paying off. The club has seen impressive results on the field as well, finishing sixth in the WSL for two consecutive years, all while maintaining a remarkable discipline record, with no red cards issued to players. 

The team’s strong start to the 2024/25 season has seen them take down top rivals, including a thrilling 2-1 victory over Julinho Athletic FC, a 1-0 win against Unam Bokkies, and a 3-1 triumph over Khomas Nampol. 

– lmupetami@nepc.com.na