Netball star Kaspar swaps court for cradle

Namibian Navy star Anna Kaspar’s absence from the netball court is striking. The Walvis Bay-based shooting star, who also plays for the Desert Jewels, has been nursing her newborn baby since last year. Kaspar has won multiple awards and built herself a reputation as one of the most clinical shooters for club and country. “I was born in Windhoek but grew up at Omugwelume settlement, but was only during my years at Eengedjo Secondary School that my netball journey came to fruition. I was already playing for the national under-19 team.” Kaspar says she eventually started earning the respect of her older teammates. “I was playing centre at primary school before I eventually switched to the goal-attack positions. I was such a neutral in my position because I was a natural,” she says. “I was in high school when I received my first under-20 call-up and we went to participate in the Ball Games in East London. I finished as the best shooter of the event.” Former Namibia National Olympic Committee staff member Joan Smit took a keen interest in Kaspar’s netball career and tried to send her to England. “I could, however, not make it to England because of Namibia’s lower place on the international netball ranking list,” Kaspar says. The tall attacker, who first played for MediPark Ongwediva NC, received an opportunity to play professional netball in Singapore – even though it was for three months only. Kaspar, who has qualified as a fitter and turner at the Namibian Institute of Mining and Technology at Keetmanshoop, is currently employed by the Namibian Navy. PROTECTING OUR SEAS “I’ve been employed by the Navy since 2015 and it has been a beautiful journey so far. We underwent military training and we are tasked to protect the country at sea,” she says. Anna Kaspar is employed by the Namibian Navy, which is the naval force branch of the Namibian Defence Force. “One of the biggest challenges of our job is dealing with illegal fishing in our territorial waters. We arrest the boats, but they just keep coming back or they never leave.” Kaspar says she wants to be remembered as a reliable player for any team she represents. “I’m not praising myself, but I’ve proven myself to be the heart of the team. I never give up and am a leader in the team,” she says. “I’m honoured to have captained the national team at exciting international tournaments. The Desert Jewels have really outdone themselves at many tournaments. Our mental resilience has been our catalyst.” The team’s ability to stay composed under pressure has won them matches beyond their expectations. The Desert Jewels won the inaugural United Arab Emirates Netball Cup in Dubai last year. They claimed the gold medal and the championship title after defeating the Singaporean Vandas 62–53 in the final. Kaspar and her Desert Jewels also won the bronze medal at the 2024 Pacific Netball Series in Brisbane, Australia. They secured third place by defeating Samoa 54–36 in the bronze play-off match at the Nissan Arena. Her exceptional antics on the netball court has seen her dominating sport award ceremonies throughout her career. “I was the player of the year at Eengedjo Secondary School between 2004 and 2008, and I have been the top goalscorer of the national under-20 side,” she says. “After we clinched the gold in Singapore I was named most valuable player of the tournament. I was also the top goalscorer and most disciplined player in the league. For me, a player who is good is a coachable player.” Kaspar’s exploits have propelled Namibian Navy into the second-best team in the Namibian domestic netball team for three years so far. Her playing style is characterised by quick attacking skills and endurance. Although she acknowledges the strides netball is making in Namibia, Kaspar decries the absence of a professional league in the country. “With the progress in our sport very visible in recent years, I still think the stakeholders could work around the clock to professionalise netball,” she says. “It is as if we are not valued as players. Although I feel things would change for the better, we are working painfully slowly for a quality league.” She says a professional league would definitely improve the standard of players because of the incentives involved. The experienced star thanks her mother for allowing her to play netball from a young age. “There was no restriction from going to practice, and today she still inspires me by supporting me.” She says she was able to pay her first year of studying at Nimt herself with the money she made from her three-month stint in Singapore. Kaspar, who has a level C coaching licence, vows to venture into coaching once she retires from the game. Namibian Navy star Anna Kaspar is a proven goal shooter for both club and country. Photos: Contributed She says she misses playing in the world cup. “I miss playing the world cup, because the players a