• Football

Goals galore at the Region 5 Games football

• 7 Hours Ago

It was a superb day of Under-20 football at the AUSC Region 5 Games in Windhoek on Saturday with 18 goals scored across four games in the men’s and women’s competitions.

On Sunday afternoon, the host nation celebrated two wins – for both its men’s and women’s teams, against Zimbabwe.

Namibian men’s team coached by Jerimi Zimmer clinched a 3-2 result against Zimbabwe at Hage Geingob Stadium, thanks to two goals by Rashid Noabeb in the 12th and 73rd minutes, after an earlier opener by Suveree Kuzuu after just two minutes.

At the Unam Stadium, Namibia’s women’s team won 1-0 against Zimbabwe.

“Zimbabwe came well prepared, but our girls stuck to the game plan, which got us a goal. It was our second match not conceding a goal. The result is a great boost for our objective of reaching the semi-final,” said Namibia Under 20 Women’s coach Naosa Damaseb.

“Our approach for our next opponent Botswana will be differently suited to them.”

The entertainment for fans who came out in numbers to support the matches was superb, and bodes well for the remainder of the two competitions.

South Africa and Zambia played to a thrilling seesaw 3-3 draw in their Group B opener in the men’s competition at the UNAM Stadium, as the lead swung one way and then the other before the teams had to settle for a draw.

Both have arrived at the competition with what are essentially Under-17 squads as they blood the next generation and put on a superb display of football.

Neo Bohloko and Emile Witbooi scored early goals for South Africa either side of a strike by Gabriel Phiri for Zambia.

But the Young Chipolopolo led at halftime as goals from Mapalo Simute and Bongani Ndhlovu out them 3-2 up.

That was the way it stayed until 10 minutes from the end when Njabulo Mzimela headed in at the back post for South Africa to make the score 3-3.

Botswana took the lead in their clash with Eswatini as they claimed a comprehensive 3-1 win when Tumiso Tshotlego converted a penalty on 15 minutes after a foul in the box.

Molwantwa Ngube made it 2-0 on 65 minutes when he was picked out in acres of space and had the simple job of finishing beyond the goalkeeper.

Eswatini pulled a goal back as Phiwayinkhosi Dube headed a free-kick into the back of the net to set up a tense finished, but Botswana restored their two-goal lead as Irvin Evans lifted the ball into the back of the net from eight yards.

In Group A action, Malawi defeated Zimbabwe 2-1 in their opener, while Angola edged Namibia 1-0.



Women’s football

Zambia claimed a 3-0 win over South Africa in their Group B opener in the women’s competition, highlighting their status as tournament favourites.

Goals from Bwalya Chipeshe, Lweendo Hanongo and Lombanya Mwewa sealed the victory for the defending Under-20 Cosafa champions as they set themselves on course for the semifinals again.

In the other fixture in Group B on Saturday, Angola outlasted Eswatini 4-2.

Eswatini took the lead thanks to a brilliant free-kick from Sethabile Dlamini, who rifled her shot into the top corner from 25 yards just before halftime.

But Angola came out firing after the break and turned the tables, taking a 3-1 lead.

Sandra Correia levelled from the penalty-spot, before Maria Viera netted from 10-yards two minutes later. The latter added a third with a superb run and shot from a short corner, blasting the ball into the back of the net.

No sooner had Angola got that two-goal advantage than Eswatini won a penalty and pulled a goal back through Nozenzo Gama.

But Angola would not be denied and they made sure of the points when Glória Araújo curled a free-kick on the edge of the box into the top corner with eight minutes left on the clock.

Botswana edged Zimbabwe 1-0 in their opener while Malawi drew their first game 0-0 with Namibia.



Swimming

At Swakopmund’s The Cube indoor centre, the 18-year-old Oliver Durand opened the host nation’s challenge in the swimming competition with the first two gold medals for the Namibia Aquatic Sports Federation (Nasfed).

The Namibian swimming team consists of Lee-Jay Armstrong, Michael Bauernschmitt, Madison Bergh, Luke Beukes, Nathan Bock, Joern Buchert, Victoria de Sousa, Oliver Durand, Lilia Ellis, Lorenzo Esterhuizen, Rodney Feris, Jessica Humphrey, Liam Kinnaird, Roselinda Matyayi, Tristan Nell, Ainoa Naukosho, Ariana Naukosho, Nora Schlabitz, Sandra Schnebel, Gizelle Slinger, Carissa Steyn and Lara Steyn.



Tennis

The tennis competition opened yesterday at the National Tennis Stadium in Olympia.

Namibia is represented by Joanivia Bezuidenhout, Ruben Yssel, Mari van Schalkwyk, Lian Kuhn, Leandre Louw, Johan Theron, Natalia !Ouses and Dante Marcus.



FOLLOW LIVE

NTV’s live broadcasts of various sports can be followed on https://oneuptwo.com, or on the YouTube channel of Network Media Hub. Today’s events will be focused on the men’s football taking place at the Unam Stadium.