Erasmus Shalihaxwe
Cuca Tops Netball Club from the Kavango East region and Extreme Netball Club from the Oshana region have been promoted to the MTC Namibia Netball Premier League over the weekend during the playoffs.
Cuca Tops became the second team from the Kavango East region in the league.
Following the relegation of Tsumeb NC and Young Stars from the Omusati region, the two teams occupy the vacant space in the country’s top-tier netball league.
Afrocat Lions Netball Club and Unam Jaguars Netball Club escaped at the same event.
Harambee Netball Club from the Hardap region, Bush Bucks Netball Club from the Zambezi region, and Afro Queens Netball Club from the Omaheke became the first from the regions to participate in the play-offs, the same after formal netball league structures were re-established last year.
Other regions such as Ohangwena, Kunene and ||Karas are yet to attempt to join the top league.
Netball Namibia vice president for development Juanita Witbeen said it is a wonderful milestone to have regions that are showing eager interest in the sport and made efforts to participate in the playoffs for the first time.
She said the goal is to have all the 14 regions represented in the league.
‘’It means that there is growth within the regions that participated and we would like to encourage them to keep working hard. Everybody can now see the potential of what netball can bring to the region and the investments that MTC is putting in, but we would love to see regions such as Kunene and Ohangwena regions to also follow suit,’’ said Witbeen.
Netball Namibia’s outgoing president, Rebekka Goagoses, said, this season is going to be special as it marks the first entry into the premier league for both Cuca Tops and Extreme NC.
‘’We would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to our sponsors, MTC and New Era Publication Corporation, as well as all stakeholders who have supported us throughout this journey. Your commitment and dedication play a crucial role in promoting netball in Namibia and ensuring its growth. Let’s rally behind our teams as they prepare for an exhilarating season ahead,’’ she said.
Goagoses has also been vocal on the lack of netball infrastructures in the country and called on the government, local authorities and private sectors to help develop netball by building netball courts at schools and in any available public space.
League coordinator Eliana Goreses said the new season is expected to start in April with specific dates yet to be announced.
Namibia Correctional Services are reigning champions after winning the Premier League title last season for the second time in three years.
Other teams in the league are Namibia Navy NC, Mighty Gunners NC, Wanderers NC, Tigers NC, Unam Ogongo and Otjozondjupa NC.
