Small Nation, Big Heart: Joy over bronze at World Games

Inline hockey
Much credit should go to Nadia Schmidt, who is Namibia's first female head coach of all national inline hockey teams.
Svenja Hecht
  • 2 Days Ago
With an impressive and determined team effort, Namibia secured an impressive and historic bronze medal in inline hockey at the 2025 World Games.

In a thrilling bronze final against France yesterday, the Namibian team triumphed 3-2 in Chengdu, China fourth most populous city of more than 20 million people.

JW Coetzee put the team ahead early with a beautiful goal that set the tone. Keanan Simpson extended the lead, and team captain Christiaan Coetzee sealed the victory with a sensational first-touch goal, perfectly set up by Armandus Röttcher.

However, the true hero of the game was goalkeeper Arian van der Plas. With incredible reflexes and a save rate of nearly 94 percent – 31 saves out of 33 shots – he was the rock that kept his team in the fight time and again.

From day one at the tournament, when Namibia beat Chinese Tapei 4-3 and followed up with a famous 5-3 shock against the host nation China, it became clear the team meant business.

The USA team dominated their final pool clash with a slick 7-0 win, but Namibia advanced to the semi-final, which Czech Republic won 3-1.



Earning respect

The Namibian Ice and Inline Hockey Association (NIIHA) yesterday proudly stated: “Just one year ago in Italy, our senior men shocked the world – rising from 21st place to 4th and earning their ticket to the World Games 2025. This year, in Chengdu, China, they took that story and wrote a history-making chapter.

“With the average age of Senior World Games players at 35, Namibia brought the youngest squad – our youngest just 16, our oldest only 25 – yet they played with the courage, skill, and discipline of seasoned veterans.

“The teamwork. The brotherhood. The African dream. You are role models for every future player. The commentators’ praise, the respect from every opponent, and the growth of this young squad show just how bright the future is.

“Today, YOU MADE HISTORY. You showed the world what Namibian hockey is made of – skill, fire, and heart.”



Overcoming challenges

Yesterday’s bronze medal achievement is remarkable considering Namibia’s population of around three million and one of the smallest player pools among the world’s leading contenders.

Here inline hockey is played mostly as a club sport, with the best players training and competing both alongside and against each other. International experience is also limited.

Despite these challenges and the absence of professional structures, the team competes on equal footing with leading nations and achieves medal-worthy results.

Much credit should go to Nadia Schmidt, who is Namibia’s first female head coach of all national inline hockey teams, who has recently been assisted by Trevor Cormack, head coach of the Namibian field hockey team.

The local sport also benefits from the crucial support of Spar Namibia, whose sponsorship plays a key role in enabling training and international participation.

The World Games bronze medal proves once again that size does not determine a team’s courage or unity. The team embodies the spirit of a small but proud sporting community that fights with heart and passion for their country.

This bronze medal is not only a sporting milestone but also a symbol of Namibia’s strength and unwavering determination to compete at the highest global sports stages.

The Namibian men’s team at the tournament were Christiaan Coetzee (captain), Anko Lucks, Amandus Röttcher, Theo Borstlap, JW Coetzee, Valerik Hilbert, Keanan Simpson, Abe van der Merwe, Wim van der Plas, Alex Wirtz, Josua Zeferinu, Sean Liechti and the two goalkeepers Arian van der Plas and Josef Zeferinu.