Okakarara Golden Ladies look beyond borders
• By Michael Uugwanga
OKAKARARA Golden Ladies Football Club has reached a partnership agreement with its Botswana counterpart Prison Ladies Football Club, with the aim of the Okakarara players to attend training across the border for the players to possibly clinch big contracts in Botswana.
Botswana Prison Ladies FC is one of the clubs competing in that country’s top league the Botswana Women Football Premier League, while Okakarara Golden Ladies plays in the Namibia Football Association (NFA)’s Otjozondjupa Women Football League.
Last year, Okakarara Golden Ladies made a name for themselves when they reached the semi-final of the NFA Women Super Cup and their good showing in the Super Cup proved that they are destined for greater heights even though they are still in need of financial assistance.
Team coordinator, Wilson Nguvauva said the partnership agreement will be an eye opener for his players who are still learning and that it will also give them the opportunity to attend professional training.
The team will start with training from July 18.
“The agreement came on our request for these two teams to have such an agreement. We are looking forward to sending our players as well our technical staff to go to Botswana and go explore and get exposed to the different environment and learn more.
“This agreement will cover our players and technical staff to go to Botswana and go attend the Prison Ladies FC’s trainings so that they get exposed to the different environment and learn more from a team that plays in the professional set up of women football with all needed equipment and infrastructure at their disposal.
“Botswana Prison Ladies FC on the other hand will get or sign our players for free if they want them to join their team.
Sponsors do not want to fund football teams because in Namibia there are no proper football structures,” he said.
Nguvauva also said that their counterparts are planning to visit Namibia in December to play friendly matches in Okakarara and Grootfontein.