Namibian international students, Monica Gomases and Cornelia Mupenda, have been selected to represent their home country in the netball Pent Series tournament in Windhoek. The University of Johannesburg (UJ) duo are competing against teams representing six nations (Zimbabwe, Zambia, Uganda, Kenya, and Malawi) between 1 and 5 November 2021.
Gomases and Mupenda made impressive strides in various local competitions such as the University Sport South Africa (USSA) championship, Twizza League, Telkom Netball League, and the Varsity Netball tournament between August and October 2021.
“It feels amazing. It is always an honor to represent my country. This is my second call up to the national team. I hope that I add that extra edge to the team and raise the bar high. This means so much to me not only as player and what I want to achieve, but as a proud citizen of Namibia. I am blessed,” says Gomases.
Gomases was part of Gauteng Jaguars that won the 2021 Telkom Netball League in October and was nominated for player of the tournament at the 2021 FNB Varsity Netball Tournament. She won Player of the match in both tournaments.
The two UJ student-athletes are playing for the first time in the Pent Series tournament, though they have played for Namibia in the past. They both joined UJ this year and have done well under the stewardship of UJ Netball Club Coach and Manager, Bongiwe Msomi.
“It’s an honour and privilege to represent my country. It has always been a dream to one day to be part of the Desert Jewels. I am proud of this moments and I am really fortunate to be here,” says Mupenda.
They are both first-year Public Relations and Communication students.
Namibia won against Kenya in the opening match on 1 November with a 25-0 score.
The other fixtures:
-02 November 2021
Namibia vs Zambia at 6pm
-03 November 2021
Namibia vs Malawi at 4pm
-04 November 2021
Zimbabwe vs Namibia at 6pm
-05 November 2021
Uganda vs Namibia at 1pm
