馃嚦馃嚘NamibiaSouthern Africa
Young Namibian hockey squad to face South Africa in test series
via The Namibian5 min read
A young Namibian women's hockey squad is set to compete against South Africa in a four-match test series in Cape Town next week, starting July 20. This series will serve as preparation for South Africa's Hockey World Cup campaign in Belgium and the Netherlands next month. For Namibia's coach, Trevor Cormack, the series marks the beginning of their journey towards the Africa Games in Egypt next year. South Africa is Africa's top-ranked field hockey team, globally ranked 18th, while Namibia is ranked 50th. The Namibian team will include players from the national under-18 and under-21 squads, alongside experienced internationals such as Petro Stoffberg, Sunelle Pretorius, and Azaylee Philander. Captain Kiana Cormack has withdrawn from the squad. South Africa will field a strong team with experienced international players and members of their under-21 squad, including Ntsopa Mokoena and Caylin Maree. Coach Cormack anticipates a challenging tournament, viewing it as an opportunity to expose Namibian players to a higher level of competition and work towards reclaiming the second-place ranking in Africa.
Free daily or weekly digest of the most important stories from across 18 African countries. No spam, unsubscribe any time.
This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by The Namibian.
Namibia has selected a 15-player national netball squad for an upcoming series against Zimbabwe in Swakopmund next month. This series will serve as crucial preparation for the Netball World Cup Africa qualifiers, scheduled for September 12-26 in Nairobi, Kenya. National coach Julene Meyer expressed confidence in the team's physical condition and their potential to qualify for the 2027 Netball World Cup in Sydney, Australia. Africa will have four representatives at the World Cup; South Africa and Uganda have already qualified based on their world rankings. The remaining two spots will be filled by the top teams from the Africa qualifier. While Malawi and Zimbabwe are considered favorites, Meyer believes Namibia, currently ranked 15th, has the talent to secure a qualification spot. The Namibian squad includes six players from the MTC Premier League champions, Namibia Correctional Service, and two from Extreme Eagles. The 2027 Netball World Cup will feature 16 teams, with the top six ranked teams qualifying automatically and the remaining 10 spots determined through five regional continental qualifiers. Hosts Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, and England have also already qualified.
The Namibian netball community is mourning the death of Christine Kanyetu-Simasiku, who passed away on Sunday at the age of 49. Netball Namibia issued a statement extending condolences to her family, friends, and colleagues, recognizing her as a dedicated servant of the sport. Kanyetu-Simasiku was known as 'Kavola' and was highly respected in the Kavango East region for her commitment to grassroots netball development and talent identification. She played a key role in assembling and nurturing the team that led the region to back-to-back Nedbank Namibian Newspaper Cup netball titles in 2025 and this year. Her efforts helped identify and develop young players who represented the region on a significant school sports stage. Netball Namibia highlighted her dedication, passion, and unwavering commitment to sports and education, noting that her contributions will be remembered for years to come. Funeral arrangements will be communicated by her family.
Must ReadSpain secured a 2-0 victory over tournament favorites France to reach the World Cup final. Mikel Oyarzabal scored a first-half penalty, and Pedro Porro added a second goal in the 58th minute at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Spain, the 2010 World Cup winners, will now face either Argentina or England in the final in New Jersey. France, who were considered strong contenders, struggled against Spain's tactical approach. Spain's midfield, led by Rodri, Fabian Ruiz, and Dani Olmo, dominated the game, limiting France's attacking opportunities. French midfielder Adrien Rabiot received an early booking, and central defender William Saliba left the game due to injury in the 31st minute. Despite some moments of threat from France, Spain maintained control, with Porro and Olmo combining for the second goal. France made substitutions, but Spain's defense held firm, denying them any clear scoring chances. Kylian Mbappe was booked in the closing minutes as Spain sealed their win.