Carlos Kambaekwa
10 May 2011
Windhoek — Host Namibia is finding the going tough in the Under-21 Confederation of Southern African Netball Associations (COSANA) Youth Games, underway in Windhoek.
Namibia is yet to win a game after three rounds of matches and suffered its 3rd successive defeat when it went down 27-47 against the rampant South Africans yesterday. In other action, Malawi easily waltzed past Botswana 43-24 to top the long standings in the four-nation youth tourney.
The Namibians lost their opening match by 34 goals to 47 against the fast improving Botswana, at the Wanderers courts on Sunday. Namibia started off like a house on fire and finished the first quarter leading by a one-goal cushion (7-6), but Botswana moved into another gear and opened a sizeable lead of 7 goals at the end of the 2nd quarter (22-15).
Namibia fought back gallantly and trailed their opponents by 8 goals, going into the final quarter (33-25) but the visitors were in no mood to compromise and emerged 47-34 victors.
In their second match, Namibia came face to face with continental champions Malawi and held her own by finishing 2 goals adrift at the end of the first quarter 10-12.
However, the silky Malawians had other ideas and stretched their slender lead to 19 goals upon completion of the 2nd quarter (31-12) before building an insurmountable lead of 43-18 going into the decisive final quarter. Final score: Namibia 28-55 Malawi.
The hosts were dealt a severe blow when leading goal shooter Muuaa Tjipetekera suffered a concussion after she fell and landed awkwardly on her back.
The lanky African Stars goal poacher was rushed to hospital and early signs indicated that she would be out for the rest of the tournament.
In other action, South Africa and Botswana locked horns in an action-packed encounter on day two of the four-team round robin youth tournament.
Action swung from end to end with the two neighbouring nations exchanging positions on the scoreboard at will.
Botswana led 10-9 in the opening quarter but South Africa was not to be outdone either and returned the compliment with a 21-19 scoreline at the end of the 2nd quarter.
However, Botswana took the game by the scruff of the neck and wrestled the lead away from their much-fancied opponents – taking a 1-goal lead (27-26) to set up a thrilling finish. The girls from the rainbow nation had the last laugh as they came out tops 36-34 in a closely contested affair.
Malawi and South have a date against each other today @08h30 to be followed by the Namibia/Botswana clash @10h00.
Zimbabwe and Swaziland pulled out of the tournament at the eleventh hour, thus reducing the regional youth tourney to a four-nation event. All the teams will play each other twice.
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