WINDHOEK: MTC Netball Namibia Premier League (NNPL) teams UNAM Jaguars Netball Club and reigning champions Namibian Correctional Service (NCS) both put on strong performances to secure maximum points on Saturday.

Rounds 21 and 22 of the NNPL were held here at the Khomasdal Stadium on Saturday and Sunday.

In the opening match of the Premier League on Saturday, NCS maintained their lead at the top of the standings after outclassing Afrocat Lions 52-33.

The match was largely one-sided as NCS proved too strong for their opponents. NCS came into the game at the top of the standings, tied on 22 points with the Namibian Navy, who are currently in second place.

In another Premier League fixture, UNAM Jaguars, currently in ninth place and fighting relegation, put on an impressive performance to dominate the fifth-placed Tigers. The youthful UNAM team led the match in the first three quarters, but Tigers’ experience prevailed in the final quarter. However, it was too late for them as they lost 38-35.

This win will
see UNAM move to 10 points in the standings, while Tigers will remain on 13 points.

During an interview with Nampa on Sunday, Netball Namibia president Rebecca Goagoses expressed her excitement about this year’s championship, both at the top of the table and in the relegation battle.

‘During a benchmarking trip to Netball South Africa, we adopted a concept used by them. Under this concept, the teams ending ninth and tenth at the end of the season will go for a playoff instead of being relegated automatically. The bottom two teams, 11th and 12th will be relegated,’ she said.

Goagoses added that so far, everything has been running as anticipated, and the league will be completed as scheduled.

‘The competition among the top three teams this year has been impressive. The Namibian Navy team has always finished third or second. I hope this year they will not drop the ball and surprise everyone by winning the league, as they have been very close in the last three seasons but never took the title,’ Goagoses said.

Goagoses added that the newly promoted Eastern Chiefs from Kavango East have proven to be a formidable outfit, playing exciting netball and giving other teams a run for their money.

Source: The Namibia News Agency