Tokyo 2020 Olympics

Rudi Bowe

Qualification for Tokyo 2020 Olympics is vital for the Namibian senior women’s field hockey team as the ladies will be competing against top-class opposition in Spain.

The qualifying competition will be held from 19 to 27 June in the International Hockey Federation (FIH) Series Finals in Valencia, Spain and the ladies has to pull out all stops as they will face the host Spain, Belarus and Canada to secure a path to the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
Namibia, rated 42nd in the world, the lowest ranked in their group will play their first match on 19 June against 20th ranked Belarus.
Their second match will be on 21 June against Canada ranked 21st with the last match against hosts Spain who is ranked 7th in the world.
Namibia Sports Commission (NSC) Chief Administrator Freddy Mwiya said at the national colours handover ceremony that the hockey team have become a force to be reckoned with.
“When we send you somewhere, we know you are going to compete and not participate like some sports codes. They qualify, participate and return without winning, but we know that with hockey, they return with something” Mwiya added.
Mwiya urged the ladies to compete with pride and dignity and compete without worries about finance issues as the NSC will pay for everything.
The Namibian squad is as follows: Magreth Mengo (captain), Petro Stoffberg, Jerrica Bartlett, Sunelle Ludwig, Gillian Hermanus, Kiana-Che Cormack, Dure Boshoff, Taramarie Myburgh, Danja Meyer, Cele Wessels, Berencia Diamond, Jahntwa Kruger, Emilia Kas-hopola, Ina Louis, Joane van Rooyen, Armin van Staden, Jocelle Deysell, and Jivanka Kruger with Amber Dercksen and Vicky Stiemert as non-travelling reserves.
The officials are Erwin Handura (coach), Rachel Freeman (manager), Randolf Slabbert (assistant coach), Manuel Carballo (fitness and mental health), Donatha Ngunovandu (team medic) and Maryke Short (video analyst)