Capricorn Group has announced that the Capricorn Schools Netball League will not continue in the upcoming season, bringing an end to a competition that has been running since 2019. 

The company said the decision was taken as part of its commitment to promoting competitive integrity and inclusivity among Namibia’s top schools. 

When the league was introduced, its primary objective was to create a high-level competitive platform for the country’s strongest school netball teams. 

However, company has since acknowledged that the current structure has unintentionally favoured schools with the financial means to cover travel and related costs, even in cases where those teams were not always competitive. 

As a result, several talented schools were excluded from participating due to financial constraints, creating an imbalance in participation and access to the national competition. 

“Capricorn Group believes that the spirit of competition should not be limited by economics, and it is imperative to reassess our approach to ensure that every school has an equal opportunity to participate in national competitions. Therefore, after careful consideration, we have decided to suspend the Capricorn Schools Netball League,” said Marlize Horn, group chief brand & corporate affairs officer of Capricorn Group. 

As part of the transition process, the Namibia Schools Sport Union (NSSU) convened a two-day workshop last month to develop a more equitable and accessible framework for school’s netball competitions. 

Representatives from various regions attended the workshop, which was facilitated by national netball coach Julene Meyer. 

The workshop, sponsored by Capricorn Group in collaboration with the NSSU, was also attended by representatives from Netball Namibia, highlighting the collective effort to re-evaluate the structure of school netball at the national level. 

While the league has been suspended, stakeholders remain optimistic that a revised, more inclusive national schools’ netball structure will emerge from ongoing consultations. 

-newsroom@nepc.com.na