STORIE LORRIE
The hottest news in Namibian football around players, coaches, teams and possible transfers.
The Otjozondjupa region,
where honourable James Uerikua is the governor, is the latest to join in the festivities when it comes to the build-up to this year’s The Namibian Newspaper Cup. That is because the region is set to host a Governor’s Cup in Otjiwarongo from 24 to 26 June. According to reports, the tournament will follow the example of the Erongo Governor’s Cup, which was held earlier this year, and the
Former Civics and Ramblers mentor
Christy Guruseb
(pictured, right) has emerged at Mariental Sports Club, where he appears to be the new man in charge of the football team. The Mariental-based outfit competed in the Paresis Cup held in Outjo over the weekend, with Guruseb seemingly in charge of the coaching department. While the club has made no official statement with regard to a coaching change, images posted on their Facebook page imply
Kunene version of the event, which is slated for early next month. The zonal qualifiers will see each constituency in the Otjozondjupa Region play trials for players eligible to compete in The Namibian Newspaper Cup, which caters for players U/20 years of age. These zonal qualifiers should be concluded by 12 June, with the seven constituencies in Grootfontein, Otavi, Okakarara, Okahandja, Omatako, Otjiwarongo and Tsumkwe then sending teams to compete in the Governor’s Cup. At this stage, it is not clear if the event will include both football and netball players. that there has been a change, with Former Brave Warriors midfield ace Quinton Jacobs, who held the coaching reigns earlier, not in sight. Meanwhile, in a video seen by The PlayMaker, Mariental Sport Club president Frederik Jod (pictured, left) revealed that the football team will indeed play in the Southern Stream First Division once organised football resumes in Namibia. In the video, while thanking the sympathisers and fans of the club, Jod also stated that the club has now started a supporters’ club. The team lost in the last 16 of the Paresis Cup, which was eventually won by Date Eleven.
Former Tigers and Chief Santos striker Kenny Malgas is taking the first steps towards becoming a coach. The Okahandja native, who also represented Namibia at U/20 level and had a career playing at several other topflight clubs, has been handed the task of leading Spoilers Academy in the developmental Okahandja Football League. The team is essentially the feeder side to the main
Spoilers, who have been competing in the Southern Stream First Division for the last few years. It appears the legendary club is ready to launch an onslaught to gain promotion to the elite league once football resumes, with the academy the first step towards broadening their playing base. Malgas is thus a beneficiary of this ambition as he is also being groomed to eventually lead the senior side. Spoilers Academy are currently second in the Okahandja Football League, after seven rounds of action played.
The build-up to this year’s
Cosafa Cup, which is due to be held in Durban,
South Africa from 5 to 17 July, is earnestly getting underway. To highlight and market the prestigious event, which serves as the career booster for many players, Cosafa will release a series of articles profiling the competing nations. The articles will be packed with history, statistics, head-to-head records, and information on the respective countries’ goal scorers over the years. With the tournament now in its 25th year and continuing to add to the rich tapestry of southern African football, Angola is the first country to be featured. An interesting piece of information of that profile reveals that Palancas Negras have won the Cosafa Cup on three occasions and were the first team to reach that mark, and so were awarded the original trophy on a permanent basis as recognition of their feat.
Masitaoka, who compete in the Botswana Premier
League (BPL) and is home to three Namibian players, have released eight players following the conclusion of the league in that country. Luckily none of the Namibians signed to the club in defender Ivan Kamberipa, striker Obry Amseb and midfielder Marius Kotze, are among those released by the club. Kamberipa and Amseb helped the club finish in 11th position in what was Masitaoka’s first season in the topflight. Kotze did not play as he joined when the international transfer window had already closed. It will be interesting to see how the trio fares next season, with the BPL having already released their schedule for the 2022/23 season. The new season is set to officially get underway in August. The BPL Cup is slated to open proceedings on 27 August. Namibia now have six players plying their trade in Botswana, with the Masitaoka trio joined by Marcel Papama and Wendell Rudath at Jwaneng Galaxy and Kennedy Amutenya, who is with league champions Gaborone United. That number may swell closer to the transfer deadline dates.