Windhoek — The Badminton Federation of Namibia (BFN) has released names of players selected to represent the country at the upcoming three badminton tournaments after trials were held at the SKW hall on 26 and 27 February
The president of the Badminton Federation of Namibia, Jürgen Leicher informed the Economist that the selected squad will train monthly under the national team coach Leon Koch.
A total of 50 players were invited by the BFN to compete for positions for the upcoming badminton tours later this year. Players have now been selected for the first teams that will compete at the upcoming Oranjemund championships between Namibia and South Africa's Western Cape Province of Boland.
Three teams in different age categories will play against Boland before the announcement of the national team squad that will play against Botswana in September 2010.
The senior national squad preparing, towards the 2011 All Africa badminton championship was also selected. Players selected will attend training sessions on a regularly basis to prepare for one of the biggest tournaments in the calendar of the Badminton Federation of Namibia.
The full men squad is as follows: Alfred Sumaili, Francois Maritz, Jürgen Leicher, Leon Koch, Org van Rensburg, Quintin du Preez, Shaun du Preez, Stefan Ackermann, Ronnie Smit.
The full ladies squad consists of: Bianca Neuman, Ella Scholtz, Ingrid Kollmitz, Julie Campbell, Lynette Venter, Lynn du Preez, Mara van Wyk, Marika Badenhorst and Melanie Campbell
The selected teams are as follows: Boys-Juniors: Wanjo Kollmitz, Francois Maritz, Ronnie Smit, Colbin du Plessis, Robert McGregor, and Rezano Willemse. Girls-Juniors: Callan Niemand, Nita Scholtz, Melissa Kring, Athusche Shihepo, and Shandre De Freitas Bacalhau. Non touring reserves: Gesa Jeske and Tatjana Kollmitz.

Namibia:Country in Badminton Test   23 September 2009

THREE teams of the Namibia Badminton Federation played international friendly matches against Botswana at the Tsholofelo Hall in Gaborone earlier this month.
The team represented the best registered badminton players in the junior, senior and veteran (above 40 years) sections of the game.
The Namibian juniors lost against their opponents and this indicates that local youngsters need more exposure at an international level
The senior team also lost despite giving a good account of themselves, while a number of matches were decided in tense three-setters against opposition which recently competed at the All Africa Championships in Ethiopia.
However, the strong Namibian veterans team overpowered Botswana without losing a match. Their victory showed that a high level of exposure throughout the years counted in their favour.
The challenge for Namibian players is now to lift the skills and improve the experience of the younger players to the same level of that of the veterans so that Namibian badminton can again become competitive at a continental level.
Badminton Federation of Namibia secretary general Juergen Leicher said interested players can join their closest badminton club or contact Axel Rothauge at the Sport Klub Windhoek at (061) 290 9354, where badminton training is presented every Monday from 19h00 onwards.
He also reminded all players and clubs that the federation's annual general meeting will take place at Oranjemund on November 5.
"This meeting will be followed by the annual Oranjemund open championship. All clubs must forward their credentials by latest October 19 to allow the secretary to draw up all relevant documentation for the meeting. The agenda will be forwarded to all the registered clubs approximately 14 days before the AGM," said Leicher.
The tour to Botswana was supported by BFN, Bicon Namibia Consulting Engineers, Windhoek South Badminton Club, Oranjemund Private School, Oranjemund Children Fund, Namdeb, Absolute Consulting Engineers, Nashua Oranjemund, Catering Contract Management (PTY) Ltd, Mr and Mrs Thorburn and various sponsorships from friends and the Namibian public.
"We herewith want to thank all sponsors for their valuable contributions towards the tour," said Leicher. Leicher can be contacted at 081 128 4183 for more information.

Namibia: Best Badminton Juniors Named The Namibian (Windhoek) 8 October 2008
Namibia recently held junior trials to choose a team to compete in the All-Africa Badminton Championships in Egypt later this year.The junior players have been tested in all categories of the game and a squad was eventually chosen out of which two boys and two girls will make the touring team.
Development is important for any sport and Badminton Namibia is satisfied with the standard of the junior players in the country.
The under-15 players who will be part of the squad are Rezano Willemse, Alpheus Navuna, Francois Maritz and Ronnie Smit.
The under-15 girls are Andeline Wieland, Saskia Henkert, Gesa Jeske and Tatjana Kollmitz.
The annual Namibian Open Badminton championships took place on September 27 at the Windhoek South Badminton club in Pionierspark.
A high standard of badminton was played throughout the senior championships.
The full results were as follows: Senior Men's Singles Winner: Alfred Sumaili; runner-up: Edward Ward Women's Singles Winner: Heidi Spinas; runner-up:Julie Campbell Men's Doubles Winners: Edward Ward/Alfred Sumaili; runners-up: Juergen Leicher/Tyronne Kloppers Women's Doubles Winners: Julie and Melanie Campbell; runners-up: Heidi Spinas and Ingrid Kollmitz.
Mixed Doubles Winners: Tyronne Kloppers and Julie Campbell; runners-up Juergen Leicher and Lynn du Preez The Namibian veterans' team recently participated in the South African Interprovincial championships.
The team was successful throughout the tournament but lost their only team event on the final day of the championships against Western Province A.

 

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