Hertta- Maria Amutenja
Namibia’s Rebekka Goagoses has been appointed acting president of Africa Netball, following the provisional suspension of president Cecilia Molokwane.
Goagoses, who stepped down as Netball Namibia’s President recently, serves as vice president for development on the continental executive board, and was unanimously selected during a special board meeting held on 22 April.
The move comes as Molokwane faces allegations under investigation by World Netball.
While details of the allegations remain confidential, World Netball has confirmed that Molokwane is suspended from all netball activities until the conclusion of the disciplinary process.
Molokwane, also the president of Netball South Africa (NSA) and a member of World Netball’s executive body, has denied any wrongdoing.
The appointment of Goagoses has drawn praise from several quarters, with local sports leaders calling it a milestone for Namibian netball.
Former Netball Namibia president and veteran sports administrator, Agnes Tjongarero, told the Windhoek Observer that while the appointment is temporary, it carries great significance.
“As a Namibian, I am very proud. Not to say because of what happened to the other person, but the fact that a Namibian is recognised. That I’m very proud of. It means a lot for Namibia, but it also means a lot for our neighbours,” she said.
Tjongarero also urged regional netball leaders in Namibia to take the appointment seriously and use it as motivation to further develop the sport locally.
“It must first be Netball. I hope the leadership in the region, I’m talking about Namibia now, Netball leadership in the region, can see that netball can move. It’s not just another playing thing. It’s something. And we are really trying to make it for netball in Namibia—we want it to become a professional sport. So with this appointment of Rebecca, I hope the regional leadership will come up and support her,” she said.
Deputy Minister of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sport, Arts, and Culture, Dino Ballotti, also praised the development, saying it reflects the current momentum in women’s leadership.
“The future is not female, female is now! I am mightily proud of our Rebekka. We fully stand behind and support Ms Goagoses, and see this as an opportunity to catapult Netball Namibia,” Ballotti said.
He also expressed hope that the private sector would get behind the sport.
“It is our hope that the private sector will stand up and take note. We are working hard at remedying the challenges faced with our Katutura Youth Complex, which will then permit Netball Namibia to build their state-of-the-art facility there.”
Goagoses has served on the Netball Namibia board for a decade and stepped down as federation president in November last year.
Africa Netball has called on all stakeholders to support both Molokwane during the investigation and Goagoses during her acting term, in line with the values of unity and continuity within the organisation.
