Uerikondjera ‘Mammie’ Kasaona has risen from the red dusty plains of Warmquelle, a small settlement tucked 250 kilometres from Opuwo and 25 kilometres from Sesfontein in Namibia’s Kunene region, to lifting the 2025 Nedbank Namibian Newspaper Cup with the Kunene region’s soccer team over the weekend.
From a group of 13 men representing the regions, Kasaona reigns supreme as the only female to make up 14 regions.
But the 2-0 triumph over Kavango East on Monday was anything but easy for the woman affectionately known as the Himba Gladiator. Her journey started with makeshift footballs made from socks and plastic bags, chasing dreams between goat pens and thorn trees, kicking dust with her brothers under the sun-blistered skies of Kunene.
Born into the Himba tribe, a community where tradition often keeps young girls on the sidelines, Kasaona broke every norm with determination. At the tender age of 16, her spark was finally noticed. Then-national team coach Jacqueline Shipanga discovered her during a talent-scouting visit, and invited her to Windhoek for national trials. That trip marked the beginning of a transformation.
Years of molding
Her rise through football began at Okahandja Beauties in 2007, where she sharpened her game among the likes of legend Stella Williams, Queen Manga, the late Stephanie Hummel and Bianca Fredericks.
She later wore the jerseys of NamPol FC and German sides Germania Hauenhorst and Wilhelmsfeld. By 2014, as captain of the Brave Gladiators, she proudly led Namibia to a remarkable 5-2 win against Botswana.
When her playing days ended, she didn’t walk away. She stepped into leadership, earning a CAF C-level coaching licence and working towards her B-level. She became interim coach of the Brave Gladiators, later taking charge of the U/20 women’s team. In 2017, her passion was born at the Kasaona Football Academy, where she coaches boys and girls.
Guided by strong mentors
In January this year, history turned another page – Kasaona became the first woman to coach a men’s Premier League team, joining Blue Waters FC as assistant coach.
““I am who am because of women’s football, and because of the mentors who advocated for me in the structures. I am happy to be a woman advocating for women to be next in line. I want to see more as the sky is the limit. Having a president as a woman and a principal where I teach is a plus.
“I am guided by the leadership and mentorship of women, and breaking this barrier didn’t come on a silver platter, there were many sacrifices involved. God knows the time and place.
“Thank you to everyone who played a vital role in who I am today. Everyone who played football with me with a ball made from socks created a new me, thank you to the parents who believed in me a gave me their boys to groom and follow my instructions and to Kunene leadership and residence and coming to the field to provide that extra man on the day of play, thank you,” she said.
More in store
Jacky Gertze, Women’s Football Development Officer at the Namibia Football Association, was overcome with pride: “What you saw at the Newspaper Cup was years in the making. The leadership of Kunene region had confidence in her ability and experience as a coach, and a female coach for that matter who runs a successful huge football academy for both boys and girls. A coach who took her Women’s Super League (WSL) team to the WSL final, won the Dr Hage Geingob Cup, took her WSL club Gals and Goals FC to get a silver medal, and was former captain of the national senior women’s team. Won the Bank Windhoek U/21 boys tournament. Was the first national football captain to lead Namibia to its first-ever continental victory when Namibia won 2-0 against Zambia in the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations final under Jacqueline Shipanga.”
On the other end, Blue Waters coach Paulus Shipanga said: “She is always willing to learn. Easy to work with. I knew when she got the job that she would go far. She is without a doubt one of the best female coaches in Namibia.
She showcased her talent. I appreciate her a lot and I hope her journey continues to be something bigger. Her ambition will be to coach one of the Premier League sides.
Her academy produces top players. Blue Waters roped in three players from her academy, that means she knows what she is doing in the youth structures. It’s high time she gets back into the national team structures and becomes one of the big coaches. I am proud to have her as an assistant.” -lmupetami@nepc.com.na