The Namibia Correctional Service (NSC), inaugural winners of the MTC Netball Namibia Premier League (NNPL) and defending champions Mighty Gunners find themselves in a deadlock, both tied on 18 points as they head into a break.
The thrilling weekend games held at Patrick Iyambo Netball Courts saw each team secure one victory and suffer one defeat.
Before the weekend’s encounters, both teams were deadlocked at 16 points, but their performance on Saturday and Sunday, where they gained maximum points from one of their two matches, maintained their level footing at 18 points.
In a tightly contested match on Saturday, Gunners faced off against Tigers, emerging triumphant with a 54-51 victory.
However, their fortunes turned on Sunday, falling short against newly promoted Wanderers by the same scoreline.
NSC, on the other hand, experienced a setback on Saturday as they lost their encounter against Otjozondjupa Nampol via a 39-34 scoreline.
They swiftly bounced back on Sunday, sinking Navy with a 43-39 win.
Gunners’ communication personnel, Desirée Namases, the weekend matches were challenging, but expressed her positivity in collecting valuable points on the road.
“We were determined not to drop any points as we enter a stage where any point loss is unacceptable. Although we played well in both games, it’s unfortunate that we lost crucial points away from home. However, we have the second round to rectify every single mistake. Our focus now shifts to coming out strong in the second round. It’s a tough season, but our commitment to retaining the title is unwavering,” she said.
In other results from Saturday, Afrocats Lions triumphed over Navy with a score of 45-43, while Otjozondjupa Nampol secured a 39-34 victory against NSC.
Rebecca Goagoses, the President of Netball Namibia, expressed her satisfaction with the entertainment provided in the first round, highlighting the underdogs’ impressive performances against stronger teams over the weekend.
“Afrocat, Otjozondjupa Nampol, and Wanderers have proven that the notion of ‘the ball is round’ is indeed true. We were treated to a fantastic display of netball skills and endurance throughout the weekend. Notably, these teams heavily relied on their under-19 players, as reflected in the results,” Goagoses said.
She said the second round will commence on 8 July 2023, in Ogongo.
She revealed that the transfer window is currently open allowing any team to bolster their squad if needed.
– mkambukwe@nepc.com.na