By Carlos Kambaekwa
WINDHOEK
Whilst sceptics are busy compiling juicy obituaries about the silent death of domestic netball, the once flourishing discipline would have none of it and says it has no intention of seeking the company of an undertaker, at least not for the time being.
The All Namibia Netball Association held its annual general meeting at the Swakopmund Youth Hostel at the coastal town, last Saturday.
The meeting, which was attended by eleven regions and a representative from the National Sports Commission, resolved to denounce the Industrial League operating in the Khomas Region following the Social League’s failure to adhere to certain conditions agreed upon during their application for Associate Membership.
The Social League is fingered to have defaulted on an earlier undertaking only to field players who are over the age of 35 and above in the Industrial League and ostensibly also failed to heed a call by the country’s netball authorities which requested them to affiliate to the Khomas Netball League.
The brainchild behind the formation of the Industrial Netball League, Cecily Swarts, says they have no business in affiliating to the Khomas Netball League and will not do so as they currently regard themselves as an autonomous body.
“Why should we affiliate to the Khomas League?” – charged a clearly irritated Swarts. “The onus is not on the All Namibia Netball Association to put up age restrictions and all sorts of jazz, because this is a social league for employees of several institutions, this is not a competition for the Golden Oldies and it must be clearly understood that the bulk of the active workforce are not in their twilight years.”
The troubled Association also tabled their audited financial report that was duly approved by all members present.
ANNA finally activated its membership to the world’s netball controlling body, the International Federation of Netball Associations (IFNA).
The move was long overdue, as it would now open doors for Namibia’s eagerly awaited return to the international arena.
Meanwhile, the Khomas Netball League is to kick-start her league activities this coming weekend at the Khomasdal Stadium netball courts in Windhoek on Saturday, with several matches scheduled in all three divisions.