Hilma Nalupe
The Namibia U/20 women’s national team will face a stern test today.
They will take on Uganda in the first leg of their Fifa U/20 women’s World Cup qualifiers at the Fifa stadium in Kampala at 16h00. The second leg will be played at the same venue on 22 September as Young Gladiators seek to take a major step towards securing a place on the global stage.
The team, led by head coach Errol Damaseb, arrived in Uganda earlier this week and immediately settled into preparations for the decisive encounters.
After holding their first training session at the Muteesa One stadium in Kampala, the squad completed a light recovery workout to shake off the fatigue of travel and adapt to the hot, humid conditions.
Damaseb, who has been guiding the team’s preparations over the past week, expressed optimism ahead of the opener.
“Today’s session was light. We wanted the players to relax their muscles and manage the travelling fatigue. The weather is hot and humid. We are going to make sure the players stay hydrated. But overall, I’m impressed with the team and the work they have been putting in,” he said.
With a young and hungry squad eager to prove themselves on the international stage, Namibia will look to bring intensity and discipline into both fixtures.
The challenge of playing away from home adds an extra layer of difficulty.
However, Young Gladiators are determined to make their mark and keep their World Cup dream alive.