Women’s national team places 4th at beach games

WINDHOEK, JUNE 24 Namibia’s first ever 3X3 women’s national basketball team recently came fourth at the African Beach Games hosted in Sal-Cape Verde from 14th to 23rd June 2019.

The games catered for 11 sports codes, one of which was the women’s 3X3 basketball. The ladies competed in a tournament that had nearly 20 participating nations and managed to obtain a fourth-place ranking. This was the first time Namibia took part in the widely recognized tournament with regards to 3X3 competitions, and specifically the women’s team.

Namibia played a set of seven games, losing four and winning the remainder, granting them 78 points. Nigeria took third with 90 points, second was Togo with 98 points and the women’s champions was team Mali with a whooping 114 points.

The Mali men’s national team dominated in the men’s division and scooped the first place with 101 points. Close behind was Algeria with 105 points, and Cote d’Ivoire in third with 95 points.

The tournament served as great boost for female representation in basketball, and moreover in the sports community. The team of four have done a great service to the country by representing so well, being first time partakers in a competition of such magnitude.

One of the players, Victoria Netumbo took part in a shooting competition where she came in second overall in the women’s division. Gie Mukumbuta, also a team member, said she was proud of her fellow teammate and was honored to have taken part in such a competition.

“My team mates and I have learnt so much during our time here and not only on court. We hope to see Namibia take part in more competitive plays like this in the coming years.”

With support from the Namibia National Olympic Committee (NNOC), the Namibian Basketball Federation (NBF) provided a women’s team for these games. Next time the Federation hopes to have both genders attend and compete as well.

The African Beach Games were the first ever held for Africa. These inaugural games catered for 11 sports codes, 54 countries and 1000 athletes. This is history for the Namibian country but moreover for the continent for having caught up to the world and held such a competition. – NDN Staffer