By Kuvee Kangueehi WINDHOEK The Namibian under- 20-football team on Saturday afternoon played to a one-all draw against Swaziland in the Zone VI Youth Games under way in the capital. In the match, which provided little excitement, Namibia took the lead in the first half but Swaziland fought very hard to level matters just before the break. Namibia which tops its group after beating Lesotho and South Africa with a 1-0 goal line is now expected to meet either Zambia or Botswana in the first semifinal. At the time of going to press yesterday Zambia were leading Botswana 1-0 in the second half and were dominating the ball possession as well. If the scoreline remained the same Zambia will face South Africa in the second semifinal on Tuesday before locking horns with either Namibia or Botswana to determine the ultimate winner the following day. In the match played earlier in the week the Angolan side humiliated their fellow Portuguese-speaking country Mozambique when they trashed them by seven goals with only a single reply. Angolan captain Ricardo Estevao led the riot by example and helped himself to a hat trick of goals. Estevao’s first two goals came in the first half and the last in the second half. In tennis Nampa reports that the Botswana tennis team posted a 3-1 win over Na-mibia after the singles in the SCSA Zone Six Youth Games at the Olympia tennis courts on Sunday. Despite the loss, Namibia have already booked their place in the semi-finals which will be played on Monday with the finals penciled in for Tuesday. Namibia have qualified from Group A while South Africa and Zimbabwe have also booked their tickets for the last four from Group B. In the other match played Sunday, Lesotho proved too strong for Zambia, running out 4-1 winners. But Lesotho will be fighting for the minor placings as they are already out of the running for a semifinal berth. Namibia’s sole victory in Sunday’s match came from Mariska Kuschke who beat Botswana’s Puleng Tlhapane. In netball South Africa clinched the first gold medal at the SCSA Zone Six Youth Games when they overcame hosts Namibia 44-28 in netball at the Katutura Youth Complex on Saturday. South Africa were strong in all departments and Namibia had to contend with a silver medal. Botswana took the bronze medal but they will be happy that their player Thamane Tau emerged as the top scorer of the tournament with 149 goals. The final between South Africa and Namibia was watched by a vociferous crowd and the spectators were always on their toes as the two teams slugged it out. South Africa, led by gangling goal shooter Jennifer Moruaise, led from start to finish. Mouraise was a predator with an eye for the hoop and she emerged the top scorer of the match with 24 goals. She was ably supported by the tall, athletic goal attacker Elsunet du Plessis who weighed in with 20 goals. Namibia’s top scorer was goal shooter Tjatjinda Kambatuku with 13 goals while her striking partner Maria Nangolo managed 15 goals. From the first quarter, South Africa hammered away at the widening chinks in the Namibian armoury.. They were slick, their ball distribution was superb and their defense impregnable. South Africa were leading 11-4 in the first quarter. They went up 26-15 in the second quarter and were leading 35-20 in the third quarter. South African coach Dorette Badenhorst paid tribute to her team for coming out tops.
2006-07-032024-04-23By Staff Reporter