U17 boys jet off to China for ISF debut
Football
Namibia was drawn in a pool including hosts China.
The Namibian Under-17 boys’ football team embarked on a momentous journey to China for their debut appearance at the ISF World Schools Championships held by the International School Sport Federation. With dreams as high as the aircraft carrying them, these young athletes have set out to showcase Namibian flavour on the global stage.
Their training camp came with a tight schedule as the boys had only five days to prepare before their departure yesterday. During this short period, the team underwent intensive training sessions twice daily to fine-tune their skills and strategies for the tournament ahead.
On Tuesday night, Chinese ambassador to Namibia, Zhao Weiping, expressed gratitude for the support of the Dalian municipal government of China, a major sponsor of the farewell reception for the Namibia School Sports Union (NSSU) football team.
“As event hosts, the Dalian municipal government will provide free accommodation and meals for the 23-member football team during their 12-day stay in Dalian. This reflects their commitment to fostering international sports exchange and strengthening bilateral ties,” Weiping said.
This will be Namibia’s first participation in football at the ISF World Schools Championships.
Coach Shakes Mallembu expressed his confidence in the team’s capabilities despite the challenging group they’ve been placed in.
“We are going to prove a point and use it as a platform for the boys to gain some experience in preparation for the Cosafa U17 tournament in December, since we will be the host,” Mallembu stated.
The team is preparing to face tough competition, including the host nation China. Mallembu emphasized the developmental nature of the squad, highlighting the importance of allowing the players to learn from mistakes and to grow in experience.
“We want to allow these boys to make as many mistakes as possible as a way for them to grow and gain enough experience to compete at a higher level,” he reiterated.
Agnes Tjongarero, minister of sport, youth and national service, said: “Schools sport is a very important layer in the sports development continuum. I am informed that the ISF Football World Cup is an event characterized by a balanced program between sport and educational content. The balance between sport and education is to create awareness about the role of sports in putting forward topics such as fair play, healthy lifestyle, respect and inclusion.”
The touring players squad at the training camp has been retained unchanged for the tour:
Mcheni Kavendjii, Rodriquez Andreas Gegu Ganeb, Kediemetse Nalipulwe Modise, Lukas Mandjoro Sakeus, Snewe Uaunguraije Katjirua, Del’Piero Oa-Ha Koam, Tjiunatjo Kakuene, Bruno Ikosa Ikosa, Jacob Stiebel, Willem Nghuvali, Robinho Tiro van Wyk, Joandry Motinga, Tiago Willemse, Rashid Simon Alfred Naobeb, Vygotsky Nasima, Mpumelelo Damion Malgas.