Cricket Namibia is proud to host the third edition of the Nashua Junior Franchise Competition, set to take place from 8–23 May 2026 across three weekends.
The Nashua Junior Franchise is one of Namibia’s leading youth cricket platforms, created to identify, develop and showcase the country’s top young talent. The competition follows a unique franchise model, where players are drafted into teams owned by corporate partners, creating a competitive and high-performance environment for the next generation of cricketers.
Nashua Namibia’s Consumable Sales Administrator, Michelle Sansom, shared her excitement about being part of the competition once again:
“We are proud to be part of the Junior Franchise again this year as we head into our third edition. We are passionate about sport and love seeing youth cricket grow in Namibia. Thank you to Cricket Namibia for the opportunity to be part of the bigger cricket community.”
The tournament features nine teams across three age groups – U12, U14 and U19. Earlier this month, on 17 April, the official draft took place, where coaches and team owners selected 12 players per team.
In the U12 category, the team owners include AJM, Green Enterprise Solutions, and Naankuse Foundation.
AJM are specialist tax and transaction advisors who provide clients with practical solutions to achieve their commercial goals. Their team is called the AJM Badgers. Johan Nel, AJM Namibia Director said, “The Junior Franchise competition is a unique opportunity for youngsters to play competitive cricket. We are proud to be part of the development of cricket in Namibia.”
Green Enterprise Solutions is a proudly Namibian company dedicated to delivering innovative Information and Communication Technology (ICT) services to corporate Namibia. The company supports the growth of cricket in Namibia through the Green Chargers team. Ilana Erasmus said, “We are honoured to partner with Cricket Namibia and are excited to support the growth of players in the third edition of the competition.”
Naankuse Foundation known for conserving wildlife, protecting natural landscapes, and supporting marginalised indigenous communities. Co-Founder Marlice van Vuuren said, “Cricket development brings the game to our community at Naankuse and helps shape young people into sportsmen while teaching important values that align with Naankuse. We fully support Cricket Namibia and are proud to be part of the Nashua Junior Franchise competition.”
The Grove Mall of Namibia, STADIO Higher Education and Ashburton Investments are also team owners, each with two teams in the U14 and U19 age groups.
The Grove Mall, the largest shopping centre in Namibia, offers a wide range of 117 store experiences. They are the current defending champions in both the U14 and U19 age groups. JP Duncan, Asset Manager at Atterbury Property said, “We want to support cricket in our country and are proud to be part of its journey. We are proud to be part of the cricket community, supporting the future pipeline of players, and to play a role in growing the game in Namibia.”
STADIO Higher Education is a tertiary institution that offers accredited qualifications across a wide range of fields. Its mission is to make higher education accessible through flexible distance learning. STADIO Namibia representative said, “Like education, sport builds discipline, teamwork, and the courage to pursue your dreams. That is why we support the next generation through the Nashua Junior Franchise competition.”
Ashburton Investments, a long-standing partner of cricket development in Namibia through grassroots programmes, is also a team owner of the Ashburton Alphas in both the U14 and U19 age groups.
Fixtures:
