Zebaldt Ngaruka
GOBABIS – Uzuvira Uatjiua is one of Namibia’s talented athletes who made a name for herself in the netball league and the national team at a tender age.
Hailing from the tiny Ozombouvapa village in the Omaheke region’s Epukiro constituency, she is currently one of the key players for MTC Namibia Netball Premier League outfit Namibian Navy (NN).
The New Era Sports desk caught up with the utility player to shed light on her sporting career, her achievements and future hopes in netball, and sport in general.
Uatjiua’s interest in sport started way back during her primary school years at Okovimburu’s Good Hope Primary School, where she was a renowned sprinter in the 100 metres (m), 200m and 400m.
Among the highlights of her athletics career, she was the first young athlete to run 9:61 seconds in the year 2001 at Gobabis’ Legare Stadium.
“I remember receiving Fredericks’ signature that day. This is something I am always proud of, but I quit athletics due to asthma. So, it is as it is. I could have gone far, but it ended there,” she said.
Although she never played netball in school, she developed an affection for netball after she completed her grade 12 at Drimiopsis-based Mokganedi Tlhabanello High School in 2010.
In 2013, she was approached by her cousin Uakaa Murangi Kamburona to join Black Africa’s (BA) third-division team.
“BA signed me, as they needed players. I adapted quickly, and after two games, I was promoted to their first team,” she noted.
Uatjiua, who plays all seven positions in netball, was nominated as BA’s best young player and most disciplined newcomer in the team for the 2014/15 season.
In 2015, she was signed by the Military School (MS) upon an invite from her brother, who worked at the Military School. The rest is history.
“That was also one of the highlights of my career, and I was fortunate to be employed by the Ministry of Defence and Veterans Affairs. All these opportunities were as a result of my netball talent,” she beamed.
Uatjiua received her first call-up to the national team when she was 22 years old in 2016, was capped five times, and last represented the country in 2018.
She played in prestigious competitions like the Pen Series, the African Cup qualifiers in Zambia’s capital Lusaka, and the African Cup of Nations held in Polokwane, South Africa.
In 2019, she had a knee operation which almost affected her career. But she stayed firm, and is now an influential player in the NN team, which is a thorn in the flesh of many premier league teams in the country.
“I am very happy with our team’s progress in the league, and we are one of the strong forces in the country’s top league. We ended second in the league, which is a good motivation for the new season”.
The Walvis Bay-based player also played for local teams in her Epukiro constituency such as Omarombora, Ozombouvapa, Otjimati and now Renamo Bucks from Okombomi in the Omaheke region.
The player, who is an introvert, likes running during her free time, and her dream is to become a netball coach when she retires.
“My dream is to plough back into the community, and help with the development of sport anywhere in the country. As a person raised in a rural area, I would like to see sport development in those areas,” she continued.
Uatjiua played a pivotal role in Namibia Rural Sports Development Federation (NRSDF) competitions, and was the first player to be crowned Dr Jarii Kaputu player of the tournament in her Epukiro All Stars’ netball team.
“That was one of the unique moments to be selected as the best from the many rural talents in the country. I also got the same award in the VRK tournament under the stewardship of Katutura Central constituency councillor Vezemba Rodman Katjaimo,” she remembered.
The derby match between Epukiro All Stars and Otjinene is the profiled encounter in both football and netball competitions under the NRSDF, as the two neighbouring constituencies are known for producing star players.
“There was a time Otjinene was dominating Epukiro in these All Stars’ competitions. My call-up silenced them, and it has changed the status quo as we are now leading in the derbies. We have a healthy competition between us, and it is one of the highlights of rural sport,” she said.
Uatjiua, who featured in many NRSDF competitions, observed that they need to be empowered, as many star players in the top leagues are from these rural set-ups.
She said the talent is there, but exposure is needed.
“This is where I came from, and the lack of sports infrastructures or facilities are challenges these rural areas need to overcome. Development of sports should start at the grassroots’ level, and be used as feeders of our leagues and perhaps national teams as well,” she stated.
The utility player remembers Menneth Atapa Muvangua as the opponent who gave her a tough time on the netball court.
She said Muvangua was a smart, experienced player, who would mark you for the whole match.
Another tough opponent she mentioned was Tiny Uahengisa Tjozongoro, who was fast, but Uatjiua outplayed her silently on numerous occasions.
“She was tough. Tjozongoro could lose the ball, but would not leave you unattended, amplifying a phrase we used ‘Omundu poo Otjimbere’, you either get the ball or the person,” she said.
In the MTC netball league, Uatjiua is impressed by Okavango East-based team called Eastern Chiefs.
“This team will not give up, and they play until the final whistle.”
Lastly, the versatile player hopes her team NN will win the premier league next season.