Junior cricketers primed for World Cup Qualifier 

Namibia’s national u19 cricket team left for South Africa yesterday for a final training camp ahead of the ICC u19 World Cup Africa Qualifier which starts in Lagos, Nigeria on 28 March. 

Six teams will be in action with only the winner qualifying for the 2026 u19 World Cup that Namibia will co-host with Zimbabwe.

The tournament will be played on a round robin basis with Namibia starting their campaign against the hosts Nigeria on 28 March, while their other matches are against Kenya, Sierra Leone, Uganda and Tanzania. 

At the team’s capping ceremony on Tuesday evening Namibian coach Oscar Nauhaus said it was a well-balanced team. 

“We’ve got a nice blend of players who have been involved in previous qualifiers and the u19 World Cup in South Africa last year, as well as some younger players, who are still only 15 or 16, so there’s a nice blend within the squad. There’s also a good variety of skill-sets available to us and it was really difficult to make the final selection. Our numbers have grown and competition for places in the squad has really increased,” he said. 

Nauhaus said they are confident in their abilities but added that it was not easy to choose a favourite. 

“People might label us as the favourites because we won the previous qualifier, but the host nation Nigeria have actually won the qualifier here in Namibia before, so I think all the countries will have their strengths and I wouldn’t want to say there’s one particular favourite. We are obviously confident in our abilities and our skill-sets but we need to go and show that on the field.”

Captain Faf du Plessis and Ben Brassell were both in the 2024 World Cup squad, while some of the upcoming players who play in Cricket Namibia’s Premier League include Erik Lintvelt and Janko Engelbrecht of United, and Adriaan Coetzee, Luca Micillo and Henry Grant of WHS Old Boys; while Junior Taanyanda and Max Heingo play for the coastal first division team Blue Waters. 

Nauhuas said the team was well prepared. 

“A large portion of this squad were part of the Cubs Week in South Africa in January while the others were part of the Grey tour. The Cubs week is Cricket South Africa’s pinnacle u19 cricket tournament where they select their u19 national side so in terms of competition and exposure, you are probably not going to get better on the African continent,” he said. 

The marketing officer of the Namibia Sport Commission, Given Samulandela called on Namibians to rally behind the team. 

“I urge all Namibians to mark their calendars for the 28th of March at 10h30 Namibian time. This is when our team will face off against the host nation, Nigeria, in what promises to be an electrifying opening match at the TBS Cricket Oval. This game sets the tone for what we hope will be a triumphant campaign as our Eagles compete in a round-robin format where

only the top team will secure qualification for the World Cup,” he said. 

Captain Faf du Plessis also gave an inspiring speech. 

“As we move forward as a team, I want you all to remember that we’re playing for something bigger than just ourselves. Every time we step onto that field, we’re representing our families, our friends, and most importantly, our country,” he said. 

“Let’s play with purpose. Let’s support each other, push each other to be better, and leave everything out there on the pitch. Because when we play with heart and as one unit, we can achieve incredible things,” he added.

The Namibian team is as follows:

Faf du Plessis (captain), Adriaan Coetzee, Ben Brassell, Dan Brassell, Erik Lintvelt, Henry Grant, Janco Engelbrecht, Junior Taanyanda, Liam Basson, Luca Micillo, Max Heingo, Rowan van Vuuren, Tiaan van der Merwe and Waldo Smith.