Khomas begins Youth Games tryouts
The Khomas region has begun preparations for the African Union Sports Council (AUSC) Region Five Youth Games in December, with the first basketball tryouts held last weekend to identify the region’s top prospects for the regional showpiece.
The U16 tryouts were held at the United Nations (UN) Plaza in Katutura, bringing together some of the region’s top young talent for two days of intense fitness assessments conducted by coaches Donatho Krohne, Tiffany Khoeses and Anna Iimene.
The final selection will take place after the second session this weekend, with players competing for places on the Khomas team for the national trials in Swakopmund this May.
From there, the final squad will be selected to represent the country at the Youth Games in Maputo, Mozambique.
Speaking about the tryouts, coach Khoeses said they will evaluate players’ fitness levels and fundamental basketball skills.
“We will assess players’ ability to execute fundamental skills such as left- and right-handed layups, as well as their teamwork and game awareness. The skills assessment will also help us evaluate their individual ability and mental strength,” she said.
Take sport to communities
Khomas Schools League president Mao Mpoyi was also present at the tryouts alongside Namibian Basketball Federation (NBF) president Nigel Mubita.
Mpoyi said the choice of venue was part of an effort to decentralise the sport and bring it closer to communities where many basketball fans and young players are based.
“By hosting the event here at UN Plaza, we are exposing more young people to basketball and encouraging them to get involved.
“Since the sport is usually played indoors and sometimes far from where people live, we are trying to decentralise basketball and take it directly to the communities,” he said.
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