Windhoek
History was made when the first intake of 14 girls at the Namibia Football Association (NFA) Girls’ Centre took place on Friday afternoon, with fun-filled activities dominating proceedings.
The centre, which was inaugurated in March, finally opened its doors for the aspiring young girls, who alongside their parents were highly excited and clearly looked forward to their football and academic training at the NFA Girls Centre.
Director of the NFA Girls Centre Jacky Gertze says she is looking forward to working with the girls, while NFA secretary general Barry Rukoro called on them to work hard and set a good precedent.
“This is your chance to be the first, but being the first means you have to set an example and a massive one for that matter.
“You must learn about confidence, determination, self-control, ability to be visible and lead to social change,” Rukoro said.
Christian Petersen, a representative of one of the project’s principal sponsors, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH (GIZ), was also in attendance.
On the basis of their needs and committed participation in the Galz & Goals programme, the following female footballers were selected by coach Jacqui Shipanga: Anna Shikusho, Shanice Daries, Valerie Kamburutue, Laesa Hanse, Julia Rutjindo, Lydiana Nanamus, Vanessa !Noreses, Sara Asino, Chantelle Engelbrecht, Gwen Narises, Mbitjita Mungunda, Batista Kasume, Memory Ngonda and Beverly Ngozondu.
The German government mandated GIZ to conduct the sector programme, ‘Sport for Development’ in Namibia. On March 17, 2014, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed with the aim of empowering girls and young women through sport.
Through the MoU, the Girls Centre was constructed to create a safe space for girls and young women.
Signatories to the MoU include Namibia’s Ministry of Sport, NFA, DFB, the Football and Athletics Association of Westphalia and GIZ, with the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development.