MTC Rewards Brave Gladiators with N$300 000 After COSAFA Cup Victory
Mobile Telecommunications Limited (MTC) Namibia has announced a cash reward of N$300 000 for the Brave Gladiators following their successful campaign at the 2026 Hollywoodbets COSAFA Women’s Cup held in South Africa.
The Brave Gladiators were crowned champions after defeating the host nation, South Africa, 2–1 in the final match of the tournament. The victory marked a historic moment for Namibia’s senior women’s national football team as they won their first COSAFA Women’s Cup title. The achievement highlighted the team’s determination, discipline and commitment throughout the competition.
The tournament brought together several national teams from the Southern African region, with Namibia demonstrating strong performances on their way to the final. Their triumph over the hosts secured the title and further strengthened the country’s growing reputation in women’s football within the region.
In recognition of the team’s outstanding performance and to celebrate their success, MTC Namibia pledged N$300 000 as a reward to the players and the technical team. According to the announcement, the amount will be shared among members of the squad and the technical staff, with each individual expected to receive N$10 000. Additionally, the team was presented with power banks and pocket Wi-Fi devices.
The reward was officially handed over during a ceremony attended by government officials and representatives from the football community. Deputy Minister of Sport, Youth and National Service, Honorable Dino Ballotti, was present during the handover and joined the Brave Gladiators as they received the reward in recognition of their achievement.
Women’s General Manager at the Namibia Football Association (NFA), Jacqueline Gertze, also highlighted the achievements and contributions made by players of the Namibia women’s national football team over the years and their role in advancing the growth of women’s football in the country.
She reflected on a historic moment in 2006 when captain Helvi Eliakim led the team to its first-ever final appearance in the COSAFA Cup. In that memorable match played in Lusaka, Namibia defeated Zambia on penalties after a 1–1 draw in the semi-final, with the late Stephanie Hummel scoring the decisive goal. However, Namibia was unable to overcome South Africa in the final.
The gesture by MTC serves as encouragement for the team and highlights the importance of supporting national athletes who represent the country in international competitions. The Brave Gladiators’ victory has been widely welcomed by football supporters and sports stakeholders, who view the achievement as a positive step for the development and recognition of women’s football in Namibia.
The team’s success at the COSAFA Women’s Cup is expected to inspire more young female athletes across the country to pursue football and contribute to the continued growth of the sport at both national and regional levels.
