Five countries contest Cosana Club Championship
Netball
The host nation is represented by its top four clubs.
A tense and exciting netball tournament with some international flavour awaits as eleven top clubs from five countries take each other on in Windhoek from Thursday, leading up to the finals on Monday morning and afternoon.
The Confederation of Southern Africa Netball Associations (Cosana) presents its club championship, with all matches to be played at the Patrick Israel Iyambo Police College in Olympia.
Zimbabwe (two teams), Botswana (three teams), Eswatini and Lesotho (one each) will be striving to leave Namibia with the winning trophy despite the opposition presented by the host nation’s four clubs.
The local challenge will be led by reigning champions Namibia Correctional Service (NCS), who celebrated its second triumph in a row during 2024’s season four of the MTC Netball Namibia Premier League.
NCS (42 points), who are still under head coach Salomon Tuaire, outpointed Namibian Navy (40), Mighty Gunners (34) and Wanderers (27).
The tournament draw:
POOL A: Wanderers, Namibia Correctional Services (both Namibia); Maun Heroes, Jwaneng Netball Club (both Botswana); Makate High Flyers (Zimbabwe); Royal Flames (Eswatini).
POOL B: Namibian Navy, Mighty Gunners (both Namibia), BDF Cats (Botswana), Lesotho Correctional Services; ZDF Queens (Zimbabwe).
‘Nerve-wracking’
Erica van Zyl, head coach of Wanderers, is confident that she has a balanced squad.
“This is the first time in twenty years that Cosana is hosting its club championship. As we know, netball is not always the most financially supported sports code and some invited teams had to withdraw.
“Wanderers started training in January and held trials in February in preparation for the premier league season, so we are ready. As Namibia’s only private club represented, it is quite nerve-wracking taking on the uniformed clubs who by their government support can recruit talent with jobs, but we are not daunted by the challenge.
“Our squad contains two senior national players (Zanté Farmer and Monica Gomases), Nelandre Mostert and Berné Hattingh as former national players and two U19 national players on the verge of their tour to Dubai (Hope Kazandovi and Angel Uapingene.”
• The four player squads representing Namibian clubs:
Namibia Correctional Service: Ilyn Kapitirepura (captain), Mwale Mulenamaswe (vice-captain), Ivondia Tjiposa, Elisia Hambongo, Lucia Haikera, Loide Kanyolo, Mbahimua Kakuenje, Sunshine Murangi, Elmarien !Haoses, Jehumba Hambira, Tjeripo Kambirongo, Imbileni Frans, Martha Shaambeni, Monique Basson. Head coach: Salomon Tuaire; assistant coach: Maria Kashopola. Team manager: Fenny Ndundu.
Wanderers: Charlene Shaanika (captain), Monica Gomases (vice-captain), Zanté Farmer, Nelandre Mostert, Hope Kazandovi, Angel Uapingene, Sinead Jurgens, Jessica Mberiuana, Jorokee Veseevete, Gillian Naris, Berné Hattingh, Vicky Muteze, Julin Frankolin. Coach: Erica van Zyl; team manager: Mara-Lee Naris.
Namibian Navy: Anna Kaspar (captain, GS/GA), Aili Alfeus (GA/WA), Morning Hasheela (C/WA), LiLi Nghilenga (C/WA), Rebecca Kambulutwe (C/WA), Victoria Shigwedha (WA/WD), Rose Gowases (WD/GD), Tuli Petrus (WD/GD), Ndeshihafela Nauyoma (GD/GK), Fransina Johannes (GK/GS).
Mighty Gunners: Ehrenfriede Uahongora (captain), Rinokana Tutjavi, Rosemary Kotjipati, Gleneth Kazonganga, Tjinomasa Kahiru, Ukamuina Hambira, Nambano Puee Tuneeko, Martha Ishitile, Meriam Johannes, Ashanti Jaepa, Else Kavandara, Uakondja Tuneeko. Head coach: Hambinga Tuuliki. Assistant coach: Hamata Fidel. Team manager: Diana Mungunda.
FIXTURES for the opening day Thursday in Olympia:
10:45 Makate Gigh Flyers v Royal Flames.
12:00 Lesotho Correctional Services v BDF Cats.
13:30 Namibian Navy v ZDF Queens.
14:45 Namibia Correctional Service v Jwaneng.
17:45 Mighty Gunners v BDF Cats.
19:00 Maun NC v Royal Flames.
20:15 Makate High Flayers v Wanderers
The Confederation of Southern Africa Netball Associations (Cosana) presents its club championship, with all matches to be played at the Patrick Israel Iyambo Police College in Olympia.
Zimbabwe (two teams), Botswana (three teams), Eswatini and Lesotho (one each) will be striving to leave Namibia with the winning trophy despite the opposition presented by the host nation’s four clubs.
The local challenge will be led by reigning champions Namibia Correctional Service (NCS), who celebrated its second triumph in a row during 2024’s season four of the MTC Netball Namibia Premier League.
NCS (42 points), who are still under head coach Salomon Tuaire, outpointed Namibian Navy (40), Mighty Gunners (34) and Wanderers (27).
The tournament draw:
POOL A: Wanderers, Namibia Correctional Services (both Namibia); Maun Heroes, Jwaneng Netball Club (both Botswana); Makate High Flyers (Zimbabwe); Royal Flames (Eswatini).
POOL B: Namibian Navy, Mighty Gunners (both Namibia), BDF Cats (Botswana), Lesotho Correctional Services; ZDF Queens (Zimbabwe).
‘Nerve-wracking’
Erica van Zyl, head coach of Wanderers, is confident that she has a balanced squad.
“This is the first time in twenty years that Cosana is hosting its club championship. As we know, netball is not always the most financially supported sports code and some invited teams had to withdraw.
“Wanderers started training in January and held trials in February in preparation for the premier league season, so we are ready. As Namibia’s only private club represented, it is quite nerve-wracking taking on the uniformed clubs who by their government support can recruit talent with jobs, but we are not daunted by the challenge.
“Our squad contains two senior national players (Zanté Farmer and Monica Gomases), Nelandre Mostert and Berné Hattingh as former national players and two U19 national players on the verge of their tour to Dubai (Hope Kazandovi and Angel Uapingene.”
• The four player squads representing Namibian clubs:
Namibia Correctional Service: Ilyn Kapitirepura (captain), Mwale Mulenamaswe (vice-captain), Ivondia Tjiposa, Elisia Hambongo, Lucia Haikera, Loide Kanyolo, Mbahimua Kakuenje, Sunshine Murangi, Elmarien !Haoses, Jehumba Hambira, Tjeripo Kambirongo, Imbileni Frans, Martha Shaambeni, Monique Basson. Head coach: Salomon Tuaire; assistant coach: Maria Kashopola. Team manager: Fenny Ndundu.
Wanderers: Charlene Shaanika (captain), Monica Gomases (vice-captain), Zanté Farmer, Nelandre Mostert, Hope Kazandovi, Angel Uapingene, Sinead Jurgens, Jessica Mberiuana, Jorokee Veseevete, Gillian Naris, Berné Hattingh, Vicky Muteze, Julin Frankolin. Coach: Erica van Zyl; team manager: Mara-Lee Naris.
Namibian Navy: Anna Kaspar (captain, GS/GA), Aili Alfeus (GA/WA), Morning Hasheela (C/WA), LiLi Nghilenga (C/WA), Rebecca Kambulutwe (C/WA), Victoria Shigwedha (WA/WD), Rose Gowases (WD/GD), Tuli Petrus (WD/GD), Ndeshihafela Nauyoma (GD/GK), Fransina Johannes (GK/GS).
Mighty Gunners: Ehrenfriede Uahongora (captain), Rinokana Tutjavi, Rosemary Kotjipati, Gleneth Kazonganga, Tjinomasa Kahiru, Ukamuina Hambira, Nambano Puee Tuneeko, Martha Ishitile, Meriam Johannes, Ashanti Jaepa, Else Kavandara, Uakondja Tuneeko. Head coach: Hambinga Tuuliki. Assistant coach: Hamata Fidel. Team manager: Diana Mungunda.
FIXTURES for the opening day Thursday in Olympia:
10:45 Makate Gigh Flyers v Royal Flames.
12:00 Lesotho Correctional Services v BDF Cats.
13:30 Namibian Navy v ZDF Queens.
14:45 Namibia Correctional Service v Jwaneng.
17:45 Mighty Gunners v BDF Cats.
19:00 Maun NC v Royal Flames.
20:15 Makate High Flayers v Wanderers
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