Namibia’s senior national netball team, the Debmarine Desert Jewels, produced a strong showing at the 2026 SPAR National Netball Championships in Cape Town, South Africa, finishing the tournament with three wins, one draw and one defeat.
The championships were held from 5 to 11 August at Stellenberg High School, bringing together some of South Africa’s leading provincial sides and providing Namibia with valuable international preparation.
The Desert Jewels competed as an invitational team in the Senior A division, using the tournament as an important testing ground ahead of the upcoming Africa Netball Cup and World Cup qualifiers. Namibia opened their campaign with an impressive 44–44 draw against defending champions Johannesburg A, demonstrating their ability to compete with one of the strongest sides in the tournament.
The Desert Jewels then produced a dominant performance against Alfred Nzo, securing a convincing 54–21 victory. Their only defeat came against Tshwane A, with Namibia going down narrowly 54–50 in a closely contested encounter. The match remained in the balance until the closing stages before Tshwane managed to pull away.
The Namibians responded strongly in their next match, defeating Dr Kenneth Kaunda 60–44 in a commanding display that showcased their attacking quality and defensive organisation. They ended their campaign on a positive note by beating Botswana 48–42 in a tense international clash. Head coach Julene Meyer used the tournament to expose all 18 members of the squad to high-level competition while testing different combinations and tactical approaches.
The demanding schedule also allowed the Desert Jewels to assess their consistency against some of South Africa’s leading provincial teams, providing valuable lessons ahead of their upcoming international commitments. The tournament therefore served as more than just a competitive outing for Namibia, giving the national side an opportunity to build confidence, sharpen tactical combinations and identify areas requiring further improvement.
With three victories from five matches, the Desert Jewels returned from Cape Town with encouraging results and valuable match experience as they continue their preparations for the Africa Netball Cup and World Cup qualification campaign.
By Rudi Bowe
