First European excursion for Brave Gladiators

Brave Gladiators coach Woody Jacobs called up 30 players for a training camp that will serve as preparation for two friendly internationals against Liechtenstein in Switzerland on 11 and 14 July.

This will be the first-ever European excursion for a senior Namibian national women’s football team.

Isack Hamata, the commercial director of the Namibia Football Association (NFA), explained that the Liechtenstein women's team does not appear on the FIFA rankings.

“They have not played international matches for the past 48 months and could lose their opportunity to be ranked. Liechtenstein played their first international in 2021 and obtained their first ranking two years before.”

The two friendly matches against European opposition will serve as preparations for the Council of Southern Africa Football Associations (Cosafa) women’s tournament scheduled for August.

Jacobs said the 30-member provisional squad would start with preparations on Monday 1 July and will subsequently be trimmed to 15 members with the final squad to be announced before the team depart for Europe on 8 July.

The coach highlighted that the ladies have been playing soccer for a while now and said he is glad that the NFA under the direction of the technical director Jaqueline Shipanga accepted the invitation for the European exposure.

“For us, this is a good opportunity to hone and showcase our skills and try to prepare in the best possible way. The Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) is still far ahead and the qualifications will only start next year, but the more we play and have this group together, the more it will allow us to also prepare for Cosafa, to get the team into the best possible shape and to qualify for tournaments.”

In his books, the players he had called up are the golden generation of Brave Gladiators, he added.

“The objective this time around is to prepare the team in such a manner that we can go out and win the Cosafa Women’s Championship for the first time. This title has eluded the Brave Gladiators for many years and we always fall short of achieving this. We have previously reached the final as well as the semifinals.”

Jacobs said the aim was to go all-out with the mindset of obtaining what he termed that elusive WAFCON qualification.

“We lost against Zambia in 2022 and last year we lost to Ghana. We believe this team can go all the way because it has enormous experience.”

The provisional squad members:

Goalkeepers Melissa Matheus (Beauties), Agnes Kauzuu (Ongos Ladies), Queandra Lucinda Batista (Unam Bokkies).

Defenders: Lydianna Nanamus (Ongos Ladies), Iina Ndapewa Katuta (Khomas Nampol Ladies), Emma Narises (Ongos Ladies), Lovisa Tuyakula Mulunga (Ongos Ladies), Utuzuvira Kahiriri (Beauties), Kamunikire Tjituka (Beauties), Veweziwe Kotjipati (Borussia Mönchengladbach, Germany), Vijukura Tjingaete (Girls and Goals).

Midfielders: Twelikondjele Amukoto (Khomas Nampol Ladies), Millicent Hikuam (Girls and Goals), Annouscka Kordom (Capital Atletica, USA), Shanice Daries (Girls and Goals), Kylie van Wyk (Girls and Goals), Julia Usuta Rutjindo (Ongos Ladies), Memory Ngonda (Ongos Ladies), Juliana Blou (Ongos Ladies), Elamrie Fredericks (Ongos Ladies), Asteria Angula (Girls and Goals), Anna-Ida Somses (V-Power Angels), Zenorita Michelle Auxamus (Namib Daughters), Ivone Kooper (Ongos Ladies), Thomalina Adams (Ongos Ladies).

Forwards: Zenatha Coleman (Fenerbache, Turkey), Anna-Marie Ngonde Shikuso (Ongos Ladies), Fiola Vliete (Beauties), Nicole Evita Philander (Hanover 96), Beverly Uuezila (Girls and Goals).