WHS are u19 netball champs

Windhoek High School became the 2023 Capricorn Group Schools Netball u19 Super League champions when they beat A Shipena 29-27 in a thrilling final on Saturday. 

The two sides weighed up evenly from the start in a great encounter that could have gone either way. 

WHS edged the first quarter 7-6, but A Shipena came back to draw level 14-14 at the half-time break. 

WHS once again edged ahead in the third quarter, going 22-20 ahead, and then maintained their two-point advantage till the end to win a tight match.

It was WHS’ first u19 title since 2019, and fourth one in total since the competition started 10 years ago.

Last year’s champions Windhoek Gymnasium won the bronze medal after beating Pro-Ed Academy 38-25 in the third place play-off match. 

Windhoek Gymnasium still hold the record of five u19 trophies since the competition started in 2013. 

Windhoek Gymnasium won the u17 category after beating Windhoek Afrikaanse Privaat Skool (WAP) 41-23 in the final, while Gobabis Gimnasium beat WHS 32-30 to win the bronze medal. 

Windhoek Gymnasium won the u15 title after beating WHS 33-19 in the final, while WAP beat Tsumeb Gimnasium by the same score to finish third. 

Windhoek Gymnasium won a third title when they beat Pro-Ed Academy 25-14 in the u14 final, while WHS finished third after beating WAP 19-14. 

Walvis Bay Private School won the u13 title after beating WAP 19-13 in the final, while Tsumeb Gim beat Windhoek Gym 14-10 in the third-place play-off. 

Tsumeb Gim won the u12 title after beating Windhoek Gym 17-16 in the final, while WAP beat Parkies 18-9 to take the bronze medal. 

The tournament organiser Liezel Garbers said the tournament had grown alot. 

“Today 10 years ago in 2013 we had our first Super League final with a few u19 teams in the Bank Windhoek Schools Netball Super League and look where we are today.

“It started with a dream to have weekends like this where girls from all over Namibia can come together to compete at the highest level, while parents are having curry and rice and hotdogs in the stands while cheering, and shouting at the umpires, I must add,” she said. 

“I feel incredibly proud to see how far we have come. This weekend we had 44 teams in total in six age groups from all over Namibia competing for the title to be the Super League champions. None of this would have been possible without our generous and committed sponsor, the Capricorn Group. 

Thank you for supporting us for the past 10 years in more ways than just financial. Your constant involvement throughout the season is adding so much value to the sport that we love, and we really appreciate it,” she added. 

Garbers also thanked the participating schools, the Namibia School Sport Union and the parents, amongst others. 

“I want to thank all the schools who have supported the Super League for so many years. We realise that for most of you it involves a lot of travel and accommodation costs thoughout the season. Thank you for your commitment and dedication to make this competition a success. Thank you also for being excellent hosts when games are played at your schools. Your arrangements are always spot on and we appreciate it a lot. 

“It is of huge importance to take the Super League to other regions and different venues and we cannot do so without your professional approach to the sport,” she added.