U19 world championship beckons
Beach volleyball
Max Krafft and Luca Kesselmann, Namibia’s under-19 beach volleyball team, showcased their talent and determination at the Africa Nations Beach Championship in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, this week. The pair earned a spot in the under-19 World Championship in China during August.
Krafft and Kesselmann defeated Ghana and the Democratic Republic of Congo, both by 2-0 margins, which secured them top spot in their group and propelled them into the quarter-finals.
Despite a hard-fought effort, the Namibians were eliminated 2-0 in the quarterfinal by Ghana.
Reflecting on the match, head coach Conrad Johannes praised their overall performance, but lamented their missed opportunities to convert crucial set-points.
Undeterred, Krafft and Kesselmann bounced back strongly in the playoff matches to secure a commendable fifth-place finish. They defeated Gambia and Morocco (both 2-0), securing the last qualifying spot for the under-19 World Championship.
“This means a lot to us. Our hard work has paid off and we are excited to represent Namibia on the global stage in China,” remarked Kesselmann.
Looking ahead to the World Championship, Krafft expressed satisfaction with their progress: "Our performance improved with each game. We know we could have gone further, but the competition was tough. Every team brought their A-game."