WINDHOEK – It’s official! The Namibian junior netball team competing in the prestigious World Netball Youth Championship underway in Glasgow, Scotland is out of contention for medals and now only fighting for national pride in their remaining matches.
After suffering heavy defeats in their opening matches against reigning world champions Australia and old foes South Africa, the youthful Namibian team lifted themselves and recorded their first win in the youth competition – walloping Israel by a massive score line of 98 baskets to a paltry 9.
The match turned out to be a massive morale booster and the relatively young and inexperienced Namibian outfit was determined to get another win under its belt when they waltzed past Singapore in their next match, rattling the opposition’s basket on no fewer than 56 times, while conceding 45 goals in the process.
The Namibians are currently fighting for 9th place in the 19-nation youth tournament. The girls were posed to confront Fiji in their next game yesterday for the 9th place play-off with an unlikely victory putting Namibia in the top ten bracket upon completion of the tournament.
Meanwhile, South Africa lost their penultimate quarterfinal clash against England and will now have to compete for the 5th place finish in a bid to salvage some lost pride. Jamaica and New Zealand contest the first semifinal while Australia and South Africa’s conquerors England are pitted against each other in the second semifinal.
By Carlos Kambaekwa