The Standard Bank Namibia Junior Hockey Initiative has expanded its development programme to secondary schools, marking a significant milestone since its launch for primary school learners in 2021.
The initiative was established to introduce and develop hockey among young learners across Namibia. The first group of players who joined the programme in 2021 are now 14 years old and in Grade 8 at secondary schools around the country, creating a growing need for structured hockey development at secondary school level.
The expansion will see secondary schools in several towns taking part, including Ella du Plessis and Delta Secondary School in Windhoek; Dr Lemmer and MK Gertze Secondary Schools in Rehoboth; Etoshapoort and Outjo Secondary School in Outjo; Empelheim and Danie Joubert Secondary Schools in Mariental; and Otjikoto, Opawa and Tsumeb Secondary School in Tsumeb.
In Walvis Bay, a coaching clinic for coaches was recently held at High Hopes Primary School. Seaside, !Nara and High Hopes primary schools participated in the one-day programme, with all three schools receiving new hockey equipment donated by Standard Bank Namibia.
The initiative will also expand to five new towns in 2026: Oniipa, Opuwo, Karasburg, Otjiwarongo and Karibib.
Meanwhile, coaching clinics in Windhoek, Okahandja, Mariental, Outapi, Ongwediva, Helao Nafidi, Keetmanshoop and Gobabis are scheduled to commence in September after schools reopen for the third term.
Each participating town is required to run its own under-10 boys’ and girls’ league for players born in 2016. The initiative held its first coaching clinics for coaches and learners in Outjo on 16 and 17 July 2026. Coaches from two secondary schools and three primary schools, Outjo Primary, Maarssen Primary and Jack Francis Primary, attended the clinics.
Six coaches and 120 learners received training over the two days, while all five participating schools received new hockey equipment donated by Standard Bank Namibia.
In Tsumeb, hockey has grown from four to six primary schools, while all four secondary schools in the town — Etosha, Otjikoto, Opawa and Tsumeb Secondary School — participated in coaching clinics held on 23 and 24 July.
A total of 21 coaches and 150 learners representing six primary schools — Tsumeb English Medium, Francis Galton, Dr Francis, Nomtsoup, Kuvukiland and Tsumeb Primary School — attended the two-day programme. All 10 participating schools received new equipment donated by Standard Bank Namibia.
In Rehoboth, Dr Lemmer and MK Gertze Secondary Schools have returned to competitive hockey for the first time in more than 20 years.
The four primary schools that joined the initiative in 2021, Ruimte, JTL Beukes, Rehoboth Primary and St Joseph’s, will this year be joined by newcomer Oanob Primary. The participating schools have also received new hockey equipment from Standard Bank Namibia. The initiative has also established a Junior Hockey Elite Group from its first intake of players between 2021 and 2025.
A total of 40 girls and 50 boys have been selected for the elite group, which is being trained and groomed with the aim of developing future national players for Namibia. The group held a training camp in Windhoek from 22 to 30 May this year. The programme is already producing promising results. Three girls from the elite group are first-year learners at Windhoek High School and are playing for the school’s first team.
Two boys and one girl have received 80% scholarships from Windhoek Gymnasium and are playing for the school’s second team. At least 30 members of the Elite Group are currently attending Ella du Plessis Secondary School in Khomasdal.
Learners from Mariental, Okahandja, Gobabis and Tsumeb are accommodated at the Ella du Plessis hostel, while plans are underway to bring elite group members from Outapi, Ongwediva and Helao Nafidi to Windhoek next year.
The Standard Bank Namibia Junior Hockey Initiative is run and administered by the Hockey School of Excellence.
By Rudi Bowe
