Women's U-20 Super League gains momentum

The Namibia Football Association (NFA) is piloting a women’s Under-20 Super League with seven school teams registered to compete. According to Jacky Gertze of the NFA’s Women Desk, the league kicked off on March 27 and thus far has seen three rounds of matches played between teams from Windhoek, Rehoboth and Okahandja. “The whole idea is to create a positive and beneficial relationship and cooperation between school-based girls’ football and the NFA,” Gertze said. “The league also gives a platform to players under the age of 20 which guarantees regular play for the core players of the national team.” She added that the league is aimed at selecting and preparing the Namibian team for the annual Zone Six Games in December. “Zimbabwe will host the Zone Six Games this year and it is an important competition for us and so this league will surely help us have more ladies to pick from and have a formidable team,” Gertze said. The NFA Women’s U-20 Super League is supported by long-term football partners FIFA and GIZ and is complimented by health education benefits to the players. The league in Windhoek is coordinated by national team player Mamie Kasaona and administered by Raeree Cole Mungendje. The league also makes use of senior Brave Gladiators players, who are trained as referees. Matches take place every Thursday and Friday at Eldorado Secondary School. Eldorado leads the league after three rounds of matches, followed by Centaurus High and a Rehoboth high schools' combined team in third place. The other teams are an Okahandja select team, A. Shipena High, Cosmos High and Hochland High. Eenhana in the Ohangwena Region will be the next pilot project for the Under-20 Women's Super League once all logistics are in place. “Our sincere wish is that the CAF African Women’s Championship later this year will really leave a legacy which will take women's football to all regions and contribute to attract the best players and administrators,” Gertze said. This past weekend, the league hosted its first tournament at the NFA’s Technical Centre, which was won by the Galz and Goals team who beat Eldorado High School 2-1. WINDHOEK-NFA.ORG.NA