Ramblers U14 soccer team in Gothia for World Youth Cup
The talented and undefeated U14 soccer team of Ramblers Sport Club left over the weekend for Gothenburg in Sweden where they will compete in the Gothia World Youth Cap running this week and ending on Saturday 21 July 2017.
Ramblers U14 team is the first Namibian soccer team ever to compete in this tournament. Locally, the team has been undefeated in the league in their age group, for the past four years.
Coach and Technical Manager, Steve McClune said “The players are extremely dedicated, have a great technical ability, a fantastic camaraderie and team spirit. These 18 players from different social backgrounds have trained hard for one common goal: Winning the Gothia Cup.”
Despite being such a popular sport, the opportunities for international participation are limited, especially for youth teams. “As such, developing this sport at grassroots level to broaden the current scope of organized youth soccer is not only a critical path to our nation’s success but also a means to promote national reconciliation, tolerance and understanding. To this end, the Ramblers Football Academy is proud to be a frontrunner and leader in the process of paving the way to semi-professional status for Namibian football. We view this as a fantastic opportunity to showcase Namibia and her spirit to the youth of the world, with the very real possibility for players to be scouted” said McClune.
President of Ramblers Soccer, Mr Harald Hecht said the U14 team represents Namibia, Ramblers, and their families with great skill displaying their wonderful Namibian talent. He advised the team to enjoy the experience to the fullest and to learn from it.
The Gothia World Youth Cup is the largest international Yyuth football tournament. This week, about 1700 teams from 82 nations will play more than 4500 matches.
The team’s participation is sponsored by the players’ parents as well as Air Namibia, the Sign Shop, Jackalberry and Nkasa Lupala Tented Lodge, Ramblers FC, Macron Sportswear, Hartlief, Namibia Breweries Ltd, CCS Logistics, Gondwana Collection, African Footprint Tours, Crown Distributors, Oyisuma Hunting, DJ Garth Williams (DJ Fantasy), Tiro Thabanello (DJ), Hotel A La Mer (Swakopmund), Adelaide and Richard Pallais, and Rakotoka Engineering.
Their travel, accommodation and participation were expertly orgaised by Ingrid Majiet and Almute Kronsbein.
Pictured are the Ramblers U14 Soccer team with their sponsors and officials.
Back row, from the left, Uaandjua Kurangera, Sven Gunzel, Mr. Ebson Ngondo (Sales Executive: Air Namibia), Mr. Andre Bok (Director: The Sign Shop), Mr. Harald Hecht (President: Ramblers FC), Coach Alessandro Micheletti ( also representing Jackalberry and Nkasa Lupala Tented Lodge), and Coach Steve McClune.
Middle row: Dennis Hortsmann, Zander McClune, Xavier McClune (captain), Ameer Majiet, Elia Hamukoto, Vetaviza Rutjindo, Jorn Lusse, and Filippo Micheletti.
Front row: Shane Schmidt, Uaraera Katjimune, Kai Averia, Uendjisuvera Katjatenja, Brooklyn Willemse, Stanten Engelbrecht, Owen Loxton and Simpson Nevonga.
