Desert Jewels’ head coach Julien Meyer assured fans and the nation at large that they won’t just be participating in the upcoming netball series, but are aiming to claim the gold medal at the tournament.
Namibia’s senior national netball team will take part in the 2024 Pacific Netball Series in Australia from 10 -15 June. The tournament will feature six teams, including Namibia, Fiji, Samoa, Singapore, Tonga and First Nation Australia. The team is set to depart for Australia tomorrow.
Namibia will start their campaign on 10 June with a tie against Samoa before facing Tonga in their second match of the tournament. On 12 June, the Desert Jewels will square off against Singapore, while the following day, they will face a strong Australia side before wrapping up their campaign against Fiji. Speaking during the send-off ceremony held at the Namibia Sports Commission (NSC), Meyer said the team is ready for the tournament. She added that the current team is the best she has ever assembled. “This team has been preparing since January, and the selection was made this year in April. I am confident that this team will go out there and produce results that will make the nation proud, as we have a balanced team consisting of seasoned players and new additions,” she said.
The Desert Jewels last tasted glory in 2019 when they won the M1 Nations Cup by edging out Singapore 49-42 in the finals. Last year, they came close to victory at the Africa Netball Championships, but lost 57-55 to Zambia in the final. However, Meyer said last year’s upset has fuelled hunger among the players as they gun for glory in the upcoming tournament.
“As a coach, I can’t disrespect the badge by saying we are just going to participate in the tournament. We have done our homework; we know how losing feels, and it has given us the motivation to work hard. Our goal at the tournament is to win gold at the end of the competition. This competition is a test for us,” she said.
Meanwhile, Netball Namibia (NN) president Rebekka Goagoses thanked the team’s main sponsor Debmarine Namibia for their support. She also highlighted the importance of this tournament in terms of its alignment with their long-term goal.
“Our main goal since we took office has been to qualify for the World Cup, and that’s what we have been chasing. We thought it was better to start preparations earlier than wait for the year of the tournament. This competition will expose our players, and give them experience. So, with these tournaments, we are destined to achieve our goal,” she said.
mkambukwe@nepc.com.na