Africa Netball Acting President Rebekka Goagoses. Pic Supplied
Noko Mashilo
Africa Netball Acting President Rebekka Goagoses is leading efforts to professionalise and commercially strengthen netball across the continent, as women’s sport continues to attract record global investment.
Goagoses, a former Namibia international and 2005 Player of the Year, has transitioned from the court into senior administration, where she is increasingly shaping the long-term direction of the sport in Africa.
She previously served in senior roles at Netball Namibia, including Vice President for Marketing and later President, focusing on rebuilding structures and improving the sport’s visibility.
Her leadership approach is influenced by her playing career, which she says helps ensure decisions remain grounded in athlete experience and development needs.
Her rise in governance comes at a time when women’s sport is expanding rapidly worldwide, with revenues projected to exceed 2.35 billion US dollars in 2025, driven by broadcast growth, sponsorship deals and digital audience expansion.
Goagoses has cautioned that Africa risks falling behind unless stronger professional systems are developed alongside grassroots participation structures.
Across the continent, more than 20 nations now compete in international netball, reflecting steady growth in participation levels. However, she argues that participation growth alone is not enough to sustain long term progress.
She has called for increased investment in structured domestic leagues, improved broadcast exposure and stronger commercial partnerships to secure the sport’s future stability.
Goagoses has also highlighted the growing role of digital platforms in expanding reach and attracting sponsors, noting that visibility has become a key driver of revenue in women’s sport globally.
“Audience growth is critical because when people watch, brands follow,” she said.
Before taking up the acting presidency, Goagoses served as Vice President for Development at Africa Netball, where she focused on strengthening pathways and development structures.
She says the current priority must be the creation of sustainable elite competition systems that can support both athlete development and commercial growth.
Her leadership is being closely watched as African netball works to bridge the gap between participation growth and full professionalisation, while positioning itself to benefit from the global surge in women’s sport investment.