By: Hee-Dee Walenga
Founder and coach of the Copper Town Girls Football Academy, Benson Kambombo, established the academy in 2021 out of desire to give girls in the area an opportunity to play football.
“Many people were starting teams at that time and everyone’s focus was just on men’s football. So I thought, let us do something unique. I am passionate about women’s football and shaping our young girls into becoming great leaders,” the academy founder told The Villager.
The academy currently consists of 30 girls across four age groups, with the youngest being U15.
Kambombo, a former goalkeeper, proudly stated that his young club has already produced national level talent. Leena “Pogba” Alweendo is a product of the academy. Alweendo was one of the standout players in the Brave Gladiators’ historic COSAFA Cup win earlier this year.
Alweendo also won the FNB Women’s Super League 25/26 Golden Boot after scoring 22 goals in 22 league matches. She was also crowned as the Player of the Season. The club has produced a number of players that now play in the FNB Women’s Super League.
Kambombo’s biggest challenge in running the academy has been the lack of resources, a tale too familiar with sporting organisations around the country.
“It’s very difficult to train the kids, these young kids are growing up with just one soccer ball. People support by mouth, but not by action,” Kambombo expressed.
The scarcity of women’s football in the north of Namibia is another challenge. “We are the only team for the past five years now in Tsumeb. If we have to play friendly matches or tournaments, it’s difficult because we always have to be the one to travel out of Tsumeb,” Kambombo lamented.
“And if we have to play within the town of Tsumeb, we have to play against the U13 and U15 boys teams,” he added.
Currently, the club’s financial assistance comes from the parents and sporadic community support. “Our parents are the only sponsors we currently have,” he said. Kambombo called on Namibia’s corporate community to give women’s football a chance.
“Give us a chance to prove ourselves as not only Coppertown, but as women’s football in Namibia,” the coach said.
