Host Namibia announces squads for Africa Cup

Indoor hockey
Indoor World Cup places for Poland 2025 will be in contention at Swakopmund next month.
Andrew Poolman
  • 1 Week Ago
The Namibia Hockey Union (NHU) has announced its men’s and women’s national squads selected to compete in the 2024 Indoor Africa Cup, to be hosted in Swakopmund from 23 to 26 May.

South Africa, Zimbabwe and Botswana will be the travelling contestants in both the men’s and women’s competitions, which also serves as the qualifier to the next Indoor World Cup (Poland 2025).

At the last edition of the Indoor Africa Cup in Durban in 2021, Namibia won its second women’s title, winning the final against South Africa 2-0. Petro Stoffberg was awarded both goalkeeper and player of the tournament.

The South African men also won the last continental title, their second, against fierce rivals Namibia in Durban in 2021 (4-1 in the final).



YOUTH AND EXPERIENCE

The Namibian men’s squad for next month, under coach Trevor Cormack, features a strong core of experienced players, led by captain and goalkeeper David Strauss and vice-captain Ernest Jacobs.

The Africa Cup will be their first outing since the three-nation Nkosi Cup last Desember in Cape Town, where they beat USA but lost in the final to South Africa. Richter van Rooyen, who was named goalkeeper of the tournament and who currently represents Western Province, will be absent at Swakopmund due to university exams at Stellenbosch, creating a rare vacancy for Roben “Giant” Kambinda (School of Excellence) to step up for national duty.

Coach Shayne Cormack’s women’s squad is equally determined and boasts plenty of talent. Look out for rising stars like Azaylee Philander and Amber Dercksen alongside established names like Jivanka Kruger and captain Gillian Hermanus. Hermanus and her team won the Nkosi Cup in December, beating South Africa (4-2 in the final) and USA.

Kiana-Che Cormack played a starring role in December as player of the tournament and overall top goal scorer.

“Both teams have been training diligently in preparation for the Indoor Africa Cup. The NHU is confident that they will represent Namibia with pride and compete for top honours on home soil. We look forward to your continued support as our national teams chase glory at the Indoor Africa Cup,” the NHU said in a statement.

Namibia Men’s squad: David Strauss (captain and goalkeeper, Roben Kambinda (goalkeeper), Ernest Jacobs (vice-captain), Dakota Hansen, David Britz, Liam Hermanus, John-Paul Britz, Nico Neethling, Cody van der Merwe, Owen Hatton, Fagan Hansen, Brynn Cleak.

Non-travelling reserves: Matukaramove Kavikairiua, Delron Handura, Dylan Finch, Percy Barthram.

Namibia Women’s squad: Gillian Hermanus (captain), Petro Stofberg (goalkeeper), Jamie Henckert (goalkeeper), Sunelle Ludwig (vice-captain), Kiana-Che Cormack, Azaylee Philander, Jivanka Kruger, Jerrica Bartlett, Amber Dercksen, Jahntwa Kruger, Kyla Landsberg, Danja Meyer.

Non-travelling reserves: Anri Els, Chene de Wet, Mia Karstens, Annica Higgs.