Eagles women kickstart year with Uganda tour
Cricket
The Capricorn Eagles will face hosts Uganda, Hong Kong and Nepal in a T20I quadrangular tournament.
The Capricorn Eagles are gearing up for an exciting international tour as they head to Uganda to compete in the Uganda Cricket Association (UCA) Women’s Day Cup.
The tournament, scheduled to take place from Saturday 8 March to Sunday 16 March, will see Namibia battling it out in a high-stakes T20I quadrangular.
The four national teams represent hosts Uganda, Namibia, Hong Kong and Nepal – all striving to improve their global T20I rankings.
The Namibian squad is set to depart for Uganda on Wednesday this week, fully prepared for a competitive showdown.
Strong momentum
The Capricorn Eagles have been in top form, with an impressive end to their 2024 campaign. They dominated Malaysia in a T20I series with a 3-0 clean sweep, and followed it up with a strong performance in Hong Kong, where they reached the final, but narrowly missed out on the championship title.
Captain Suné Wittmann has been a standout performer with the bat, leading from the front with consistent displays. She has been well-supported by vice-captain and stalwart batter Yasmeen Khan.
The team’s bowling attack has also been a key strength, with Wilka Mwatile and rising star Saima Tuhadeleni delivering notable performances.
Exciting rivalries await
The upcoming tournament will serve as a rematch opportunity for Namibia against Hong Kong, a team they faced recently. The matches will take place at the Entebbe Cricket Ground, with Namibia aiming to showcase their strength against familiar opponents.
The Namibian women last faced hosts Uganda in 2023 during the ICC Women’s T20I World Cup Africa Qualifier and the Capricorn Eagles Series in Windhoek. These encounters have built a competitive rivalry between the two sides, promising thrilling clashes ahead.
Government support for development
Deputy Minister of Sport, Youth & National Service, Emma Kantema-Gaomas, highlighted the government’s support for cricket and its commitment to sports development in the country.
“As a ministry, these are the kind of initiatives that really resonate with what we endeavour to achieve.
“In this financial year 2024-2025, we've supported cricket with N$2.5 million earmarked for infrastructure, because we acknowledge the role we play in ensuring proper facilities. Additionally, N$3.1 million has been allocated to the federation, totaling N$5.6 million in this financial year. This underscores our commitment to providing the necessary resources for the team to excel and for continued development,” said Kantema-Gaomas.
Player squad
The Capricorn Eagles squad traveling to Uganda features a mix of experienced players and young talents.
Led by captain and all-rounder Suné Wittmann and vice-captain Yasmeen Khan, the team includes Wilka Mwatile, Mekelaye Mwatile, Arrasta Diergaardt, Leigh-Marie Visser, Eveleen Kejarukua, Kayleen Green, Mezerly Gorases, Edelle van Zyl, Sylvia Shihepo, Saima Tuhadeleni, Naomi Benjamin and Bianca Manuel.
Tournament fixtures
The fixtures for the UCA Women’s Day Cup are as follows:
March 8 – Uganda v Hong Kong (09:00), Namibia v Nepal (13:00).
March 9 – Nepal v Uganda (09:00), Hong Kong v Namibia (13:00).
March 10 – Uganda v Namibia (09:00), Nepal v Hong Kong (13:00).
March 12 – Nepal v Namibia (09:00), Hong Kong v Uganda (13:00).
March 13 – Namibia v Hong Kong (09:00), Nepal v Uganda (13:00).
March 14 – Hong Kong v Nepal (09:00), Namibia v Uganda (13:00).
March 16 – Bronze final (09:00), Cup Final (13:00).
Commitment to Women’s Cricket
The Capricorn Group, through Capricorn Asset Management (CAM) and Capricorn Private Wealth (CPW), remains a strong supporter of women’s cricket in Namibia.
Marlize Horn, Capricorn Group executive for brand and corporate affairs, emphasized the company’s commitment to fostering the growth of the sport.
"Last year, we proudly renewed our official partnership with Cricket Namibia. The remarkable strides achieved by the Capricorn Eagles under the guidance of Cricket Namibia fill us with immense pride. The Capricorn Group, together with CAM and CPW as the official sponsors of the Capricorn Eagles, remain committed to this community because we believe that the investments we make today will bring positive outcomes for Namibian girls and women in the future," said Horn.
The tournament, scheduled to take place from Saturday 8 March to Sunday 16 March, will see Namibia battling it out in a high-stakes T20I quadrangular.
The four national teams represent hosts Uganda, Namibia, Hong Kong and Nepal – all striving to improve their global T20I rankings.
The Namibian squad is set to depart for Uganda on Wednesday this week, fully prepared for a competitive showdown.
Strong momentum
The Capricorn Eagles have been in top form, with an impressive end to their 2024 campaign. They dominated Malaysia in a T20I series with a 3-0 clean sweep, and followed it up with a strong performance in Hong Kong, where they reached the final, but narrowly missed out on the championship title.
Captain Suné Wittmann has been a standout performer with the bat, leading from the front with consistent displays. She has been well-supported by vice-captain and stalwart batter Yasmeen Khan.
The team’s bowling attack has also been a key strength, with Wilka Mwatile and rising star Saima Tuhadeleni delivering notable performances.
Exciting rivalries await
The upcoming tournament will serve as a rematch opportunity for Namibia against Hong Kong, a team they faced recently. The matches will take place at the Entebbe Cricket Ground, with Namibia aiming to showcase their strength against familiar opponents.
The Namibian women last faced hosts Uganda in 2023 during the ICC Women’s T20I World Cup Africa Qualifier and the Capricorn Eagles Series in Windhoek. These encounters have built a competitive rivalry between the two sides, promising thrilling clashes ahead.
Government support for development
Deputy Minister of Sport, Youth & National Service, Emma Kantema-Gaomas, highlighted the government’s support for cricket and its commitment to sports development in the country.
“As a ministry, these are the kind of initiatives that really resonate with what we endeavour to achieve.
“In this financial year 2024-2025, we've supported cricket with N$2.5 million earmarked for infrastructure, because we acknowledge the role we play in ensuring proper facilities. Additionally, N$3.1 million has been allocated to the federation, totaling N$5.6 million in this financial year. This underscores our commitment to providing the necessary resources for the team to excel and for continued development,” said Kantema-Gaomas.
Player squad
The Capricorn Eagles squad traveling to Uganda features a mix of experienced players and young talents.
Led by captain and all-rounder Suné Wittmann and vice-captain Yasmeen Khan, the team includes Wilka Mwatile, Mekelaye Mwatile, Arrasta Diergaardt, Leigh-Marie Visser, Eveleen Kejarukua, Kayleen Green, Mezerly Gorases, Edelle van Zyl, Sylvia Shihepo, Saima Tuhadeleni, Naomi Benjamin and Bianca Manuel.
Tournament fixtures
The fixtures for the UCA Women’s Day Cup are as follows:
March 8 – Uganda v Hong Kong (09:00), Namibia v Nepal (13:00).
March 9 – Nepal v Uganda (09:00), Hong Kong v Namibia (13:00).
March 10 – Uganda v Namibia (09:00), Nepal v Hong Kong (13:00).
March 12 – Nepal v Namibia (09:00), Hong Kong v Uganda (13:00).
March 13 – Namibia v Hong Kong (09:00), Nepal v Uganda (13:00).
March 14 – Hong Kong v Nepal (09:00), Namibia v Uganda (13:00).
March 16 – Bronze final (09:00), Cup Final (13:00).
Commitment to Women’s Cricket
The Capricorn Group, through Capricorn Asset Management (CAM) and Capricorn Private Wealth (CPW), remains a strong supporter of women’s cricket in Namibia.
Marlize Horn, Capricorn Group executive for brand and corporate affairs, emphasized the company’s commitment to fostering the growth of the sport.
"Last year, we proudly renewed our official partnership with Cricket Namibia. The remarkable strides achieved by the Capricorn Eagles under the guidance of Cricket Namibia fill us with immense pride. The Capricorn Group, together with CAM and CPW as the official sponsors of the Capricorn Eagles, remain committed to this community because we believe that the investments we make today will bring positive outcomes for Namibian girls and women in the future," said Horn.
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