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Debmarine’s N$40m investment lays the foundation for Desert Jewels’ dream

Road to Sydney

Debmarine Namibia’s investment of approximately N$40 million in netball since 2017 has helped transform the Debmarine Desert Jewels into a rising force in African netball, laying the foundation for their return to the Netball World Cup in Sydney, Australia, in 2027.

The qualification ends a 31-year wait since Namibia’s last appearance at the global showpiece in 1995. As preparations begin, the achievement has renewed calls for stronger corporate partnerships, improved athlete support and the professionalisation of sport as an economic industry.

For head coach Julene Meyer, the team’s progress demonstrates what sustained investment can achieve.

“Debmarine Namibia does not feel like a sponsor to us – they feel like family,” she says. “Since 2017, they have walked this journey with us and enabled the Jewels to play more than 70 test matches in the past nine years. For any national team to climb the world rankings, you must play regular international competitions. Debmarine Namibia made that possible.”

FROM 37TH TO 14TH IN THE WORLD

When the partnership began, Namibia ranked 37th globally. The team has since climbed to 14th, supported by international exposure, regular training camps and consistent competition.

Funding has also allowed Namibia to travel with 15 to 18 players, including training partners, rather than only the final 12. This strengthens competition for places, builds squad depth and gives more athletes international experience.

Support extends to grassroots development, with coaches travelling to different regions to develop players and train school-level coaches. Long-term sponsorship also enables preparation around four-year Commonwealth Games and two-year World Cup cycles, helping players peak at the right time.

A WIDER NATIONAL AMBITION

Debmarine Namibia CEO Willy Mertens says the company recognised netball’s reach among women and girls and its potential to create opportunities for Namibian athletes. “We saw potential where others saw obstacles and made a deliberate decision to stand behind women and girls in sport,” he says.

The investment supports player development, coaching, training camps, competitions, equipment, infrastructure and administration. It has also funded court renovations at the Vineta Sports Facility in Swakopmund.

For Mertens, the World Cup qualification demonstrates what consistent support and a shared vision can achieve. Beyond 2027, the ambition is to strengthen youth development, coaching capacity and infrastructure, while positioning Namibia to host international competitions.

“Sport also has the potential to strengthen tourism by attracting regional and international competitions that showcase Namibia as a destination while generating economic activity for local communities,” he says.

PREPARING FOR THE WORLD STAGE

Meyer stresses that qualification is only the beginning. Competing against the world’s leading netball nations will require additional international exposure and broader corporate support.

“This is the first time in 31 years that Namibia has earned a merit invitation to the pinnacle event of World Netball. It is a collective achievement for our country, and preparing properly will require a collective effort,” she says.

Companies can contribute beyond direct funding through medical services, physiotherapy, strength and conditioning, recovery programmes, training venues, accommodation, transport, nutrition and sports psychology. Technology, including video analysis, performance data and specialist software, can also strengthen preparation.

“Over the next 10 months, that kind of support can help shape a historic World Cup campaign,” Meyer says, referring to partnerships that could provide international exposure and help the team prepare for high-pressure competition. She believes Namibia has the potential to become a top10 netball nation, provided partnerships between Netball Namibia, government and corporate investors remain strong beyond 2027.

Meyer advocates a collaborative sponsorship model in which companies contribute according to their capacity, whether financially or through services and equipment. She also calls for greater commercialisation, including exploring broadcasting and media rights, while extending investment to the Baby Jewels, Under-19 players, men’s netball and grassroots programmes.

STRENGTHENING THE GAME AT HOME

Debmarine Namibia is not alone in investing in netball. Telecommunications company MTC has supported the sport since 2021, focusing on the domestic game and professionalising the Namibia Netball Premier League.

MTC Chief Human Capital, Corporate Affairs and Marketing Officer Tim Ekandjo says the sponsorship aims to improve the league’s competitiveness and create opportunities for athletes nationwide, including through minimum monthly player payments.

The investments offer complementary approaches: Debmarine Namibia strengthens the national team’s international competitiveness, while MTC supports the domestic structure needed to develop talent at home.

SPORT AS AN ECONOMIC INDUSTRY

The Desert Jewels’ qualification comes amid President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah’s calls to professionalise sport and develop it into an industry that creates employment, supports livelihoods and contributes to economic growth. This aligns with the government’s Sixth National Development Plan (NDP6), which recognises sport’s potential contribution to employment and development.

Professional sport can create opportunities not only for athletes, but also for coaches, officials, administrators, event organisers, journalists, hospitality workers and entrepreneurs. Hosting international competitions can further generate tourism revenue and benefit local communities.

Namibian netball is already showing what these opportunities might look like. Cornelia Mupenda recently signed a two-year contract with the Peninsula Waves in Victoria, Australia, demonstrating how investment and international connections can open pathways for local players to compete professionally abroad.

Her move offers inspiration to young athletes and highlights the potential for players to gain international experience and bring valuable knowledge back to the national setup.

The challenge now is to turn the Desert Jewels’ World Cup qualification into a lasting legacy: one that strengthens development structures, creates professional opportunities and ensures Namibian netball continues to progress long after 2027.

From the November 2026 issue

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