The Debmarine Desert Jewels returned from the 2025 Celtic Cup with one win and two losses, but head coach Julene Meyer says the results only tell part of a much bigger story, one of growth and the emergence of a new generation of Namibian netball talent.

Uganda were crowned champions of the tournament which saw six nations, namely host Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales, Uganda, Zimbabwe and Namibia compete. 

The latter navigated a demanding week marked by logistical hurdles and a significantly altered squad. 

Head coach of the Debmarine Desert Jewels, Julene Meyer reflected on the realities her side faced before even stepping on court.

“As you are aware, it was a challenging tour from the start. A number of starters were unavailable for selection, then we had issues with non-release of players from clubs and visa challenges. That alone reshaped our plans,” said Meyer.

Yet, for Meyer, adversity created opportunity. “Growth doesn’t happen in a comfort zone. The positive was that we selected a young, inexperienced team, but one with tremendous potential. We had seven changes from the Dubai group. We managed to debut Rejoice Kambonge and Miriam Johannes against top-10 nations, something that rarely happens,” she said.

The coach praised the squad for embracing the challenge and pushing themselves in an environment far removed from their usual opponents. “There was so much development on this tour,” she explained. “Impact players and non-starters stepped up into starting roles. Debutants faced world-class players. I saw emotional growth, improved game intelligence and increasing mental resilience every single day,” she added.

The Celtic Cup also marked Namibia’s first exposure to the European style of play and European officiating, a factor Meyer says required swift adaptation.

“At times we struggled with the umpires’ interpretations, but we improved daily. “On attack we became more competitive. Our error rate dropped, our composure under pressure improved, and our decision-making became more consistent,” she said.

Meyer admitted that, early on, her players were intimidated by world rankings rather than focusing on skill match-ups.

“That’s part of gaining experience, understanding that rankings don’t play the game. We had some blow-out quarters that I wasn’t happy with, but we grew every day, and that work paid off in our win over Northern Ireland,” she explains.

Looking ahead, Meyer believes the experience gained is crucial, especially as many of these players will form the national team core for the next decade.

“I’m proud of what they achieved. They now know they can compete with these nations. Individually, Uendjisuvera Kangumine, Grace Matyayi and Corrie Mupenda had outstanding performances,” she says.

She hopes the team will receive support to compete at the Africa Netball Cup in Malawi, their last major test before World Cup qualifiers.