OVER 80 squash players competed in possibly the biggest MultiChoice Namibian Closed squash tournament in over 20 years, held at the Buccaneers Squash Club in Walvis Bay over the weekend.
Players who came from all over Namibia, and as far as South Africa, competed to be recognised as the top Namibian player. The big draw meant that the men’s section was subdivided into an A and B section with each section offering a main Cup, Consolation Cup, Plate and Consolation Plate. The women’s section offered a Main cup, Consolation cup, Plate and a Consolation Plate.
The men’s A section saw the return of Marco Becker, who is based in South Africa and started the tournament as the favourite. Round one was a formality with the top players easily dispatching of their opponents to get to the next stage where tougher games were in store.
Adri Lambert was the number one seed due to the absence of Namibia’s top-ranked player, Isabelle Schnoor, out with a foot injury. Lambert faced stern opposition from Nancy Fernandez and coastal favourite Jenny Pahl, the number 2 and 3 seeds at the tournament. Fernandez blew Carla Cummings away with a comprehensive 3-0 win.
In the men’s A section, Norbert Dorgeloh, another returning Namibian squash player, beat Brian Kahengombe 3-1 to establish his own challenge at the coveted Namibian closed trophy. The warm weather, which makes the ball bounce higher, ensured that the games were long and hard on the players.
Source: AHU – David A-O