Netball Namibia — governing body organizing national netball competitions and team selection, administering Desert Jewels' 2027 World Cup qualification.
News reports
Order a long-term news report on Netball Namibia
Every mention in the Namibian press over the period you choose, compiled as a PDF or Word document.
Key points drawn from coverage. Tap a point to see the original sentence.
The Namibian
Netball Namibia issued a statement saying the team had improved dramatically over the past year
“Netball Namibia, meanwhile, issued a statement saying the team had improved dramatically over the past year.”
Desert Jewels sparkle in global spotlightThe Namibian
Netball Namibia achieved historic qualification for the upcoming Netball World Cup
“MTC congratulates Netball Namibia on the national team's historic qualification for the upcoming Netball World Cup, an achievement that reflects the growth, resilience and excellence of Namibian sport on the international stage.”
MTC congratulates Netball Namibia on world cup qualificationWindhoek Observer
Netball Namibia secured historic qualification for Netball World Cup
“Sostenus Wilherm Mobile Telecommunications Limited (MTC) has congratulated Netball Namibia on securing a historic qualification for the upcoming Netball World Cup, describing the achievement as a reflection of the growth, resilience and excellence of Namibian sport.”
MTC celebrates historic Netball World Cup qualificationThe Namibian
Netball Namibia challenged and sent a letter to World Netball regarding new directives
“Meyer said Netball Malawi and Netball Namibia had challenged the new directives and sent a letter to World Netball and shortly after 16h00, they received confirmation from World Netball that their appeal had succeeded.”
Desert Jewels ride drama to Netball World CupThe Namibian
Netball Namibia involved Ambrosius Eichab after his work with Namibia Schools Sports Union
“Eichab says he was lucky to have been afforded umpiring opportunities locally and internationally by the Namibia Schools Sports Union before he became fully involved in Netball Namibia (NN).”
Top umpire praises Netball NamibiaNew Era
Netball Namibia has applauded the standard of competition displayed throughout the season
“Netball Namibia has applauded the standard of competition displayed throughout the season, commending the commitment shown by clubs, players and officials.”
Netball race down to the wire … season enters decisive stageThe Namibian
Netball Namibia was directly affected by the government funding suspension
“Netball Namibia secretary general Jessica Gaomuses yesterday said the governing body has been "directly affected" by the suspension of government funding.”
Govt funding freeze ‘setback’ for sportThe Namibian
Netball Namibia congratulated Goagoses on her appointment as full member of World Netball Board
“Netball Namibia is delighted to congratulate former president Goagoses on her appointment as a full member of the World Netball Board, where she will serve out the remaining tenure of the previous Africa representative on the global body.”
Goagoses appointed on World Netball boardThe Namibian
Netball Namibia president Juanita Witbeen described overall standard of league as highly encouraging
“Netball Namibia president Juanita Witbeen has described the overall standard of the league as highly encouraging, citing improvements in the quality of play, tactical awareness, fitness levels and competitiveness across the competition.”
Jewels net high praise at ‘Power Week’New Era
Netball Namibia provided a detailed account of the selection process during the engagement
“According to a media statement issued by the ministry, NN provided a detailed account of the selection process during the engagement, outlining the procedures and criteria used to identify players during the Newspaper Cup tournament.”
U/19 team retained …Ministry, Netball Namibia resolve selection rowMTC has invested more than N$12 million in developing and professionalising Namibian netball since 2021, with annual sponsorship of the Namibia Netball Premier League increasing to N$3.4 million in 2026.
12 October 2026 · New Era →
MTC has invested more than N$12 million in developing and professionalising Namibian netball since 2021, with annual sponsorship of the Namibia Netball Premier League increasing to N$3.4 million in 2026.
12 October 2026 · New Era →
Debmarine Namibia's financial support has enabled Namibia's netball team, the Desert Jewels, to qualify for the 2027 Netball World Cup in Sydney and strengthen grassroots development. Netball Namibia president Juanita Witbeen credits the sponsorship as critical to international performance and says the qualification will inspire the next generation of players.
29 September 2026 · The Namibian →
Namibia's Desert Jewels netball team qualified for next year's Netball World Cup in Sydney after finishing fourth at the Africa Cup in Nairobi. The team clinched their spot after reaching the semi-finals, marking their third World Cup appearance and first in 31 years since 1991 and 1995.
28 September 2026 · The Namibian →
Namibia's national netball team has qualified for the upcoming Netball World Cup, a milestone MTC says reflects the dedication of players, coaches and stakeholders and underscores the growing strength of women's sport in Namibia.
25 September 2026 · The Namibian →
Netball Namibia has secured qualification for the upcoming Netball World Cup, an achievement MTC credits to years of dedication by players, coaches and administrators. MTC, which launched the MTC Namibia Netball Premiership in 2021 with an initial three-year commitment of N$4.8 million, says the qualification reflects the growth of women's sport and national pride.
25 September 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Namibia's Desert Jewels qualified for the 2027 Netball World Cup in Sydney after finishing second in pool A at the Africa Cup in Nairobi. The team's advancement came after tournament organisers changed the semi-final fixtures, moving pool winners South Africa and Uganda directly to the final while second and third-placed teams competed in world cup qualifying semi-finals.
25 September 2026 · The Namibian →
Namibia Sports Commission chief administrator Fred Simataa Mwiya told the SportsBitz Africa Forum in Rwanda that Africa lacks sport financing and investment, not talent. Namibia aims to increase sport's contribution to employment from one percent to 3.5% by 2030, framing sport as an economic asset that creates jobs and drives tourism.
15 September 2026 · The Namibian →
Newly-capped MTC Netball Namibia Premier League umpire of the season Ambrosius Eichab has reflected on his officiating journey and offered key insights into rule interpretations, emphasizing the importance of distinguishing between contact and contesting, and advocating for playing advantage to keep the game flowing rather than penalizing every infringement.
11 September 2026 · The Namibian →
Anna Shipanga, a long-time centre for Namibia's Desert Jewels netball team, has retired from the national squad. During her career, she represented Namibia at international competitions including the African Netball Championships, and won the M1 Nations Cup in Singapore in 2019 and the UAE Inaugural Cup in 2025.
14 August 2026 · The Namibian →
The 2026 MTC Namibia Netball Premier League is reaching its final stages with defending champions Namibian Correctional Service remaining unbeaten after 16 wins, while NDF Mighty Gunners sit second with 16 victories and three defeats from 19 matches.
24 July 2026 · New Era →
Namibia's sport bodies have condemned the Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sport, Arts and Culture's decision to suspend all financial support to recognised sport federations and umbrella organisations, calling it a serious setback that threatens athlete development, competitions and employment. The suspension came after the ministry cited mounting financial constraints in a letter dated 15 June, despite having set aside approximately N$13.5 million for sport development programmes in April.
7 July 2026 · The Namibian →
Rebbeka Goagoses, former president of Netball Namibia and acting president of Netball Africa, has been appointed to the World Netball board. The Namibia Sports Commission and Netball Namibia hailed the appointment as a significant achievement for Namibian sport and governance.
17 June 2026 · The Namibian →
Desert Jewels coach Julene Meyer and Netball Namibia officials praised the inaugural MTC Power Week tournament, held at the MTC Dome in Swakopmund from 23 to 30 May, for its high intensity, player development, and quality of play across all 12 Premier League teams. Netball Namibia president Juanita Witbeen described the overall standard as highly encouraging, noting improvements in competitiveness and a narrowing gap between established powerhouses and emerging teams.
5 June 2026 · The Namibian →
Defending champions Namibia Correctional Service opened a 12-point lead atop the MTC Netball Premier League after an unbeaten run at the eight-day Power Week tournament in Swakopmund, where all 12 premier league teams played multiple back-to-back matches.
3 June 2026 · The Namibian →
The Under-19 netball team selected during the 2026 Newspaper Cup will remain unchanged following a meeting between the Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sport, Arts and Culture and Netball Namibia, which resolved concerns about the selection process for the AUSC Region 5 Youth Games. The selected players will now compete alongside regional teams of seven players each, with additional eligible athletes from the Netball Namibia database introduced into the trials.
6 May 2026 · New Era →
The MTC Netball Namibia Premier League resumes on 2 May, with defending champions NCS aiming to extend their dominance after winning a third consecutive title in 2025. Three newly promoted clubs—Smart Girls, Mighty Gunners, and Wanderers—enter the league as players begin receiving monthly allowances of N$500 under professionalization efforts.
30 April 2026 · The Namibian →
The Kavango East Netball Association has formally challenged Netball Namibia's preliminary under-19 national squad selection, citing poor regional representation after their team won the Nedbank Namibian Newspaper Cup 2026 championship yet had only one player selected, compared to nine from the Khomas region. The association warns that under-representation of players from outside Windhoek risks damaging confidence in national pathways and affecting participation in future tournaments.
22 April 2026 · The Namibian →
Netball Namibia has defended its selection process for the preliminary under-19 national squad following backlash over the skewed selection of players from Khomas region and minimal inclusion from defending champions Kavango East. The federation says selection decisions are based on how players complement the team as a whole and are overseen by a panel of qualified selectors, though critics question how the runner-up team received nine selections compared to one from the championship winners.
16 April 2026 · The Namibian →
The Nedbank Namibian Newspaper Cup tournament continues to develop grassroots netball talent, with many teams fielding debutants and under-20 players competing at the national stage for the first time. Young players from various regions report that the competition provides crucial exposure, travel opportunities, and experience that prepares them for higher-level play and national selection.
8 April 2026 · The Namibian →
The second day of the Nedbank Namibian Newspaper Cup netball tournament at Keetmanshoop produced thrilling matches with Ohangwena recording emphatic victories and narrowly defeating Erongo 32–27 in a highlight encounter. Kavango West and Kavango East also impressed with strong performances as teams compete for top honours ahead of the knockout stage.
5 April 2026 · The Namibian →
The opening day of the Nedbank Namibian Newspaper Cup netball tournament was disrupted by rain on Friday, forcing two matches between Kunene and Ohangwena, and Oshana and Otjozondjupa to be paused mid-quarter and resume on Saturday. Netball Namibia president Juanita Witbeen said matches would resume from the exact point they were stopped, with remaining quarters to be completed the following morning.
4 April 2026 · The Namibian →
Omaheke's netball team manager Estmerelda Bendt says they aim to win the coveted Nedbank Namibian Newspaper Cup, drawing in group B alongside defending champion Kavango East and Khomas. The team, coached by Monica Bohitile and Gregg Makari, finished second last year and has received support from the regional council and municipality for preparation.
3 April 2026 · The Namibian →
The defending champions from Kunene and Kavango East regions will compete to retain their 2025 Nedbank Namibian Newspaper Cup trophies in football and netball at the tournament being held in Keetmanshoop from 3 to 6 April, bringing together under-20 teams from all 14 regions of Namibia.
31 March 2026 · The Namibian →
Namibian netball legends say the sport has made progress over 36 years but needs more investment in grassroots development, infrastructure, coaching, and funding to sustain growth. They note that while players now receive some payment and professional opportunities, better pathways from schools to the national level and stronger support systems are essential.
30 March 2026 · New Era →
The youth development tournament, bringing together under-20 football and netball teams from all 14 regions, is scheduled for 3–6 April in Keetmanshoop with over 1,000 players and delegates expected. Organisers say preparations are nearly complete, with infrastructure improvements including renovated facilities, new soccer fields and netball courts, and accommodation secured across local schools and town venues.
28 March 2026 · The Namibian →
The Namibia Football Association says the Nedbank Namibian Newspaper Cup, which reaches all 14 regions and 121 constituencies, is a key grassroots talent identification and player development programme that helps transition young players into national teams. The competition also emphasises referee training, strict medical protocols for player safety, and development-focused coaching over short-term winning.
18 March 2026 · The Namibian →
Netball Namibia has appointed Jessica Gaomuses as secretary general and CEO to strengthen governance and accelerate the sport's growth and professionalisation. She will oversee strategic direction, operations, and financial stewardship while working to expand opportunities for athletes, coaches, and administrators.
13 March 2026 · New Era →
Netball Namibia has appointed Jessica Gaomuses as its substantive secretary general and chief executive on a one-year contract. Federation president Juanitha Witbeen said the appointment marks a significant step toward professionalising the sport and strengthening governance.
13 March 2026 · The Namibian →
The Deputy Minister of Education has officially launched the 24th edition of the Nedbank Namibian Newspaper Cup, a youth football and netball tournament established in 2001 that provides opportunities for young athletes from all 14 regions to showcase their talent. The 2026 tournament will be hosted in the ǁKharas Region from 3 to 6 April in Keetmanshoop.
11 March 2026 · Informanté →
The Nedbank Namibian Newspaper Cup, a national football and netball tournament that has run since 2001, was launched yesterday and will take place from 3–5 April in Keetmanshoop with all 14 regions participating. Officials including Deputy Minister of Sport Dino Ballotti and Netball Namibia President Juanita Witbeen praised the event for promoting youth sports development and discovering talent for national teams.
10 March 2026 · New Era →