The Brave Gladiators head coach Woody Jacobs, has named a 30-woman training squad in preparation for two friendly matches against the Liechtenstein national football team. 

These matches will take place in Zurich, Switzerland. This is a historic moment for the Gladiators as it marks the first time they will compete against a European team. Due to the Gladiators’ recent lack of international matches, these games will also be used to impact on their Fifa rankings.

The team, referred as the ‘Golden Generation of Gladiators’ by Jacobs, will play the matches on 11 July and 14 July. The two games are crucial as they will help prepare the players for the upcoming Cosafa Women’s Championship, the date of which is yet to be announced, and next year’s Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAfcon) qualifiers.

During a press conference at Football House in Katutura, Windhoek yesterday, Jacobs expressed confidence in the team. 

“The team has to made significant strides, and our objective is to prepare them to win the Cosafa Women’s Championship,” Jacobs said. “This championship has eluded the Gladiators for many years. The last time we reached the final was in 2005, and we made it to the semi-finals in 2022. 

This time, we aim to qualify for WAfcon, a goal that has also eluded us for years. In 2022, we missed out on an away goal against Zambia, and last December, we were eliminated by Ghana with a 2-2 aggregate score.”

Jacobs believes the team’s experience and cohesion will lead to success. “They have been playing together for a while now, and something must come out of this. They have enormous experience. We are grateful that the football association, under the direction of the technical director, accepted this invitation to play against a European counterpart. Despite Liechtenstein’s small size, this is a valuable opportunity to showcase our skills and prepare for future competitions,” he added.

Jacobs emphasised the importance of continuous play and team unity. “Afcon qualification will start next year, but the more we play together, the better prepared we will be for Cosafa and Afcon. Our goal is to get the team in the best possible shape to qualify for major tournaments and showcase the talent that Namibia has produced over the years,” he concluded. -lmupetami@nepc.com.na

The training squad consist of:

Goal keepers

Lydia Eixas

Quendra Mwilinga

Mateus Melissa

Defenders 

Lydiana Nanamus

Ndapewa Katuta

Emma Naris

Lovisa Mulunga

Utuzuvira Kahiriri

Kamunikire Tjituka

Veweziwe Kotjipati

Vijukura Tjingaete

Midfielders

Twekondjele Amukoto 

Milicent Hikuam 

Debora Vries

Shanice Daries

Kylie van Wyk

Julia Rutjinfo

Memory Ngonda

Juliana Blou

Elmarie Fredericks

Asteria Angula

Anna-Ida Somses 

Zenorita Auxamus

Ivonne Kooper

Thomalina Adams

Zenatha Coleman

Anna-Marie Shikusho 

Fiola Vliete

Nicole Philander

Beverly Uueziua