CAPTAIN Nanguloshi Kamutushi was one of three players in the Desert Jewels team that were born when Namibia last appeared at Netball World Cup.
Selma Bitler (33), and Anna Kasper (31), are the remaining members of the trio aiming to help Namibia reach the finals. They will do so through the Africa Netball World Cup qualifiers held in Pretoria, South Africa from 21 to 27 August.
“The last time Namibia played in the world cup was in 1991. It was so long ago, we want this history to repeat itself. We have talented players, many of them are senior and well-experienced. So, I think we’re going to have a very good competition,” Kamutushi (36) said in an interview with The Namibian Sport on Wednesday.
Namibia is keen to be included in the roster for the first ever Netball World Cup held on African soil. This is a new dawn in netball in Africa with the hosting of the world spectacle on the continent.
“Our goal is to qualify and that’s what we are going to fight for. There are no in-betweens, we’re looking at that goal and that’s what we’re aiming for,” Kamutushi said.
“We’ve been training very hard and it’s going quite well. The new coach [Mara Waya]We are actually building on our skills and experience, so it’s not as if we’re learning a new system.
We are excited and looking forward the competition. The goal is one, we want to qualify for the world cup.”
Waya, a Malawian legend in netball, wants to engineer Namibia’s path to the 2023 world cup finals at Cape Town. After getting to know the team over the last few weeks, she is positive about the Jewels’ chances.
“The training camp is going well. I’ve been there for three weeks. When I came, we started with the speed, after that we did our combos and coordination,” Waya said.
Debmarine Namibia made it possible for the Desert Jewels to qualify, and they will be heading for South Africa next Friday. They will then clash with Botswana in their opening Group A clash two days later.
The other countries in the pool are Zimbabwe, Tanzania, and host South Africa.
“The team is in shape, it’s just one or two things we need to continue training on so that we can come to 90% of everything we want to do,” said Waya.
South Africa’s place at the world cup as hosts is assured. Because of their high ranking in the global rankings, so is that of Uganda’s Cranes.
This leaves group B countries Malawi, Zambia and Kenya, Eswatini, and their four rivals in Group A to fight for the two remaining slots.
“The chances are 100% for me because the other teams, we’re prepared for. Each and every day we’re doing a game plan for each and every country,” she said.
“So, the game plan is there and, in our group, we’re hoping to be number one.”
Waya’s optimism regarding the upcoming qualifiers stems in part from her good relationship with her new colleagues.
Waya said that the players and other officials made Waya’s transition into the structure smooth. Waya has the support of Lloyd Makunde, a former Zimbabwe head coach who helped lead his country to their maiden World Cup appearance in 2019.
“The adaptation has been good. I saw the team in Malawi when they came for the Tri-Series, so I knew some of the players, I talked to them,” Waya said.
“When I came here, I already had a friendship with the players and the coaching panel. And the technical panel, we know each other from way back which makes it easy to work together.”
Source: namibian
