Baby Gladiators’ dream comes true

Namibia’s under-17 women’s football team has progressed to the next round of the 2016 FIFA Women’s U/17 World Cup qualifiers. The Baby Gladiators managed to beat Botswana 3-2 on aggregate, following their 2-1 victory away and a one-all draw on home ground. Botswana took the lead in the first half with a goal by Radiakanyo Lesego 25 minutes after kick-off. The Baby Gladiators recovered from the loss of concentration and continued to create chances for themselves and the goal eventually came on 60 minutes as Ignacia Haoses threaded one through from deep in her own half into the path of the expecting Beverly Uueziua who raced through onto goal and unselfishly laid up the ball for Kylie van Wyk for the simplest of tap-ins. Van Wyk’s 60th minute equaliser against Botswana was enough to see Namibia’s under-17 girls’ team through to the first round of the 2016 FIFA Women U/17 World Cup qualifiers. Botswana substitute Theo Keselebong nearly made it 2-2 on aggregate as she headed over from less than three metres out following a teasing cross from the left. Uueziua was once again in the thick of things as she linked up well with Van Wyk who found Haoses, the latter’s well-taken shot hitting the upright before coming back into play and being cleared by the Botswana defence. The hardworking Uueziua had two chances to put the tie to bed. First she miscued in front of goal from a Jasmin Baas free kick in the 80th minute. Three minutes from time, Uueziua showed some great ball control, turned the defenders inside out and took a shot that somehow missed the roof of the net and found the crossbar, much to her disbelief and that of those supporting her. Namibia will next play Nigeria between January 8-10, with a return leg in Windhoek between January 22 and 24, in the first round of qualification for the 2016 FIFA Women’s U/17 World Cup. Speaking to members of the media after their victory, coach Mervin Mbakera said it was a very tough match but the support from the fans helped the girls a lot. “The first part of the game we were in Bostwana’s half and obviously these are kids and they lost concentration and first shot on target was our punishment and they learned a lesson from it,” he said. Mbakera said it was all about believing because somehow the players wanted to lose belief in themselves. “After showing character in Botswana, it was very important that we reminded them how they fought back there and that this is home ground and the can even do better than that,” he said. - additional reporting NFA.org.na KAINO NGHITONGO