The Namibian U/19 men’s cricket squad is set to compete in the ICC U19 men’s Cricket World Cup Africa qualifiers.
The 14-man squad has been announced, with six countries – host Nigeria, Namibia, Kenya, Sierra Leone, Uganda and Tanzania set to compete in the qualifiers in Nigeria from 28 March to 6 April. The matches will be held at the University of Lagos Cricket Oval in Akoka.
Namibia Sports Commission spokesperson Givean Samulandela highlighted the significance of the tournament.
“This tournament marks a pivotal moment in the careers of our young cricketers. They will be competing for the sole qualifying spot that grants entry into the prestigious ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup in 2026, a tournament that Namibia will proudly co-host alongside Zimbabwe. This is not just an opportunity for our players to shine, but also a chance for Namibia to showcase its cricketing talent on the global stage”.
“Our team faces a formidable challenge in a competitive group, which includes Uganda, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Tanzania and Kenya. With only one team advancing, every match will test their resilience, determination and skill. The road ahead will be demanding, but we have every confidence that these young men are prepared to rise to the occasion”.
To motivate the team, Samulandela shared an inspiring story: “To the athletes, every time you face a big nation and feel like giving up, remember the story of a dog and a cat, where a dog was chasing a cat but could not catch it because the dog was running for a meal while the cat was running for its life. You may be seen as underdogs, but you must go into these qualifiers as cats running for your life”.
Before heading to Nigeria, the team will undergo rigorous preparation in Pretoria, South Africa. These warm-up matches will be instrumental in refining their strategies, enhancing teamwork and building confidence ahead of the qualifier.
“Such preparation underscores our commitment to ensuring that our players are equipped both mentally and physically for this critical tournament,” said Samulandela.
He urged the players to embrace the ‘leader with no title’ philosophy, inspired by Robin Sharma, encouraging everyone involved – from players to coaches and supporters to give their best.
Captain of the team Faf du Plessis shared his thoughts ahead of the competition: “As we move forward as a team, I want you all to remember that we’re playing for something bigger than just ourselves. Every time we step onto that field, we represent our families, friends – and most importantly, our country. Let’s play with purpose.
Let’s support each other, push each other to be better, and leave everything out there on the pitch. Because when we play with our hearts and as one unit, we can achieve incredible things,” he said.
Namibia will play their opening match against Nigeria on 28 March.
They will face Sierra Leone on 29 March, Tanzania on 1 April, Uganda on 2 March and Kenya on 5 March.
All matches will kick off at 9h30.
-lmupetami@nepc.com.na
The Namibian squad:
Faf du Plessis, Adriaan Coetzee, Ben Brassell, Dan Brassell, Erik Lintvelt, Henry Grant, Janco Engelbrecht, Junior Taanyanda, Liam Basson, Luca Micillo, Max Heingo, Rowan van Vuuren, Tiaan van der Merwe and Waldo Smith.