Unified volleyball team eyes glory at World Cup

Volleyball
Mariud Ngula
  • 4 Days Ago 03 October 2025
Namibia Sports Commission yesterday sent off twelve of the country’s finest volleyball athletes to represent Namibia at the Special Olympics Unified Volleyball World Cup from Sunday until Wednesday in Katowice, Poland.

The team departs today and comprises Given Kaholongo, Allycia Sheehamange, Ndahafa Heita, Beata Sheyanale, Loide Haitula, Mercy Kuugongelwa, Rosalia Nekongo, Ganeni Shetunyenga, Evelina Nghipwiinine, Klaudia Peter, Pinky Masiziani and Helvi Shikongo.

They will be accompanied by head of delegation Josefina Fillipus and head coach Kristofina Bartromeus, with assistant coach Hendrina Shoro and Kudakwashe Mutasa serving as volleyball ambassador.



Qualification

The team is made up of Omusati Volleyball players, who earned their place following a gold medal performance at Special Olympics Namibia’s (SON) National Unified Volleyball Games last month.

The Unified Volleyball World Cup will see Namibia compete against seven other women’s teams from around the world, where athletes with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) play alongside those without.

SON confirmed that Namibia received a quota to field one women’s unified team, consisting of six athletes with IDD and six partners without.

“We are confident the tournament will set a new standard for unified sport and build momentum towards the upcoming World Games scheduled for 2027 in Santiago, Chile,” said SON.

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