Jewels lay groundwork for World Cup return
Namibia’s senior women’s netball team, the Debmarine Desert Jewels, have begun laying the groundwork for their first Netball World Cup appearance in 32 years, with the tournament set for 25 August to 5 September next year in Australia.
Netball Namibia has confirmed that players have returned to training and that national selection trials are planned for early February.
The preparations come as World Netball confirmed the full 16-nation field on Tuesday, a day after announcing that all 64 matches of next year’s tournament will be played on one court at Afterpay Arena in Sydney Olympic Park.
Namibia, which secured qualification in Nairobi, Kenya, last month, will join fellow African representatives Malawi, South Africa and Uganda at the 17th edition of the global showpiece.
Participation fee settled
Speaking to Sport Wrap, Jewels head coach Julene Meyer said the team had already entered its foundation phase, with players working on their conditioning ahead of national trials.
“The players are back in the gym for a foundation phase programme. Some are on rehab schedules,” she said.
Meyer also revealed that the team’s participation fee has been paid to World Netball to confirm its place at the tournament.
“We have submitted a detailed preparation plan to the Netball Namibia board, outlining selection trials, training camps, competition participation requests and planned pre-tournament preparations,” she said.
She added that high-performance coaches nationwide would have access to the national players’ training programmes to help prepare prospective squad members for physical testing and selection evaluations.
Regarding the venue announcement, Meyer said Afterpay Arena’s proximity to accommodation and transport facilities would help with logistical planning.
She said she did not foresee any particular competitive advantage or disadvantage from all 16 nations playing on the same court, noting that training and warm-up courts of a similar standard would be available.
Funding and logistics
Netball Namibia president Juanitha Witbeen said preparations began a little over three weeks ago.
“We are already budgeting for the team’s participation in Sydney. The venue announcement just clarifies in terms of where we are going to play,” she said.
Witbeen explained that the federation was working on its financial requirements and exploring support from Debmarine, other potential sponsors and government stakeholders.
She acknowledged that travelling to Australia would be costly, with training arrangements, facilities and other logistical requirements still being finalised.
The federation expects to provide further updates on the team’s preparations around mid-to-late November.
Remembering England 1995
Former Namibian national team goal attack Liezel Garbers said the Jewels’ return carries particular significance.
Garbers was part of Namibia’s last Netball World Cup squad in England in 1995, when the country had been independent for just five years.
“Representing Namibia at the 1995 Netball World Cup in England was a hugely proud and emotional experience, especially because [it] was still a relatively young independent nation at the time,” she recalled.
Now coaching the U19A team at Windhoek Gymnasium, Garbers believes the country’s prolonged absence from the World Cup was largely due to inconsistent preparation, limited resources and insufficient exposure to top-level competition.
“Namibia has always had talented players, but talent alone is not enough to qualify for a Netball World Cup,” she said.
She credited Debmarine’s sponsorship, the establishment of the MTC Netball Premier League and the work of Meyer and specialist coach Dorette Badenhorst for helping the Jewels reach the world stage again.
“They [Meyer and Badenhorst] deserve most of the credit for creating belief, discipline and a clear identity within the team,” Garbers said.
World Cup draw
Next year’s Netball World Cup will introduce a new Cup and Plate format, with all 16 nations guaranteed eight matches and final placings from first to 16th decided on court.
The official draw, which will determine Namibia’s pool opponents, is expected in December.
Captions:
Debmarine Desert Jewels head coach Julene Meyer. PHOTO NETBALL NAMIBIA
Netball Namibia president Juanitha Witbeen. PHOTO CONTRIBUTED
Former Namibian national team goal attack Liezel Garbers (standing, fifth from left) with the country’s 1995 Netball World Cup squad in England. PHOTO CONTRIBUTED/THE NAMIBIAN
