Illness deals Young Gladiators big blow

The national under-20 women's side will be without their captain, Lena Noreses, when they take on Zambia in a 2014 FIFA Women's Under-20 World Cup qualifier match at the Sam Nujoma Stadium tomorrow. According to the medical report from the team, Noreses will miss the crucial clash against the Zambians due to chicken pox. Reports suggest the captain went down with what she thought was the flu on Tuesday but she was diagnosed as having chicken pox the following morning; thus leaving the influential player on the sidelines. “It is big blow for the team. She is a hardworking captain and a strong candidate for our final team for the 2014 CAF Women's Championship squad of Namibia,” said the Namibia Football Association's (NFA) Women's Desk head, Jackey Gertze. "This is indeed a heavy blow for the youthful side which has introduced a whole bunch of new graduates from the popular Galz and Goals leagues, which runs nationwide,” she said. On a positive note, Gertze said the spirit is high in the under-20 camp at the NFA Soccer House where the squad is based ahead of the clash against Zambia. The Zambian team are the current Under-20 Cosafa champions after they romped to victory at the Zone Six games in their home country in December last year. The team arrived in Namibia on Wednesday morning and are based at the Safari Hotel. The Young Gladiators coach, Jacqui Shipanga, said she regards the Zambian team as very strong as they are competitive in Africa after their Zone Six display last year. But she promised to leave no stone unturned in gunning for victory in their first-leg match tomorrow, which will start at 16:00. Protect the goal The NFA along with its partners Galz and Goals, NABCOA, SCORE, Unicef and UNAIDS will use tomorrow's game to launch the 'Protect The Goal' campaign for HIV prevention. It highlights the value of football as a tool for social change and aims to raise awareness of HIV and mobilise young people to commit to HIV prevention through sport. From 14:00 activities in line with the theme will take place prior to the main game. According to a press release, the players have been sensitised on issues around HIV by UNAIDS with the players then serving as ambassadors for the campaign while acting as role models for their peers and fans. The 'Protect the Goal' campaign will promote the idea of HIV prevention through sport leading up to the World Cup in Brazil and the African Women's Championship, which are both taking place next year. WINDHOEK-NFA.ORG.NA