The spokesperson of the reigning MTC Netball Namibia Premier League champions Mighty Gunners, Desire Namases, expressed readiness to defend their title in the upcoming league starting this weekend.
During the launch of the new season held last Friday, Namases assured the public that their team has been training hard since January and is not feeling any pressure as they have a solid and formidable team.
“We are confident that we can defend our title and reclaim it if need be. Our fitness level is good, and we have a good team that can fight until the end,” Namases said in an interview. The official launch, which took place at the MTC headquarters last week, included the release of the first-round fixtures. Namibia Netball (NN) president Rebecca Gowases anticipates a competitive season, with all 12 teams expected to play at their best. Gowases added that new teams with top players will bring their experience to the league.
“It’s a new season, with fresh new teams, so we expect a tough contest from all the 12 teams. There are some new teams that are showing potential, such as Wanderers, who have top players that have been called up to the national team. I believe that their experience will help elevate the level of play in the league. All the teams are looking good at the moment, and I trust that we will have a great season,” she said.
Four teams, Wanderers, Northern Fly Ballers, Fatou, and Young Stars – were promoted to the premier league after successfully securing places in the promotional and relegation play-offs earlier this year.
Newly promoted Fatou, which boasts young and talented players, are confident that they could be a force to be reckoned with in the premier league this season. Sarah Nangolo, a player at the club, expressed their readiness to raise the standard in the league.
“Our players are eager to elevate the standard in the premier league. We have the best players, and the girls are young and driven, which brings a unique element to the team. We are excited to kick off our first match on Saturday,” she said.
In 2020, NN received a three-year sponsorship worth N$4.2 million from MTC to assist with the establishment of a premier netball league and the development of netball countrywide. The sponsorship is expected to end this year.
-mkambukwe@nepc.com.na