DECEMBER 2000 SPORT HEADLINES

Thursday, January 18, 2001 - Web posted at 9:47:23 AM GMT

Foreign stars react to Dumitru's claims
HELGE SCHUTZ

SOME of Namibia's foreign-based soccer players have given mixed reactions to coach Ted Dumitru's claims that they were not committed enough during Namibia's match against Madagascar on Saturday.

At a press conference in Windhoek on Monday, Dumitru said that some of the foreign-based players were not committed enough when playing for their country and that they kept their best form for their professional clubs.

Kaizer Chiefs captain Mohamed Ouseb said it was the first time he heard about Dumitru's statements, but agreed with the coach."

"It's true.

Robert Nauseb for instance didn't play his normal game for the Brave Warriors, but I know that I didn't do too badly'" he said."

"I know what Rassie Tjikuzu is capable of but he didn't impress that much.

Quinton Jacobs however tried to make something happen and showed what he is capable of when he came on in the second half," he added.

Nauseb agreed that he "didn't do well," but declined to comment further on the issue."

"We had 50-50 chances which we didn't make use of, but I was impressed with the local players and their fighting attitude in the second half," he said.

George Hummel, who scored Namibia's second goal in the final minute of the game to draw the match, didn't agree with Dumitru, saying there were many factors which contributed to the Brave Warriors' performance."

"For instance, I struggled with the hot weather, while we didn't understand the new system too well, until the second half when we attacked more," he said."

"It was very nice to score my first goal for Namibia in such dramatic fashion, but on the whole I wasn't too pleased with my performance," he said.

Meanwhile, Ouseb clarified a statement made by captain Congo Hindjou after the match, when he said on NBC that Dumitru had told the players to relax in the first half."

"In our previous friendly matches we tired in the last minutes and Ted warned us about tiring too quickly.

He said we must be clever and play with our minds and not just attack and tire."

"Ouseb remained upbeat about Namibia's chances of reaching the Africa Cup of Nations finals, although they are at the foot of Group One with one point after three matches."

"I don't think our chances are gone.

If we get a win in our next match we will be right in there again because we are now just two points behind Zambia."

" Namibia have three remaining matches in their campaign - at home against Nigeria on March 24, away against Zambia on June 2 and away to Madagascar on June 16."

"Of our remaining matches I fear Madagascar the most.

I don't see much of a problem with Nigeria.

I think they will underestimate us and at home we have a real chance since we have done well against some of Africa's top teams in Windhoek.

if we do our homework and if we all give our best, they won't give us many problems," he said.

Ouseb said Zambia wasn't the team of old and that Namibia was the first country to hold them to a draw in Lusaka in many years and therefor Namibia could do it again, or even win the match.

Ouseb also supported Dumitru's coaching tactics."

"Sometimes the training is quite hard, but we are enjoying ourselves.

He gives us freedom to move in the games and doesn't interfere with our minds.

He let's us do what we can do best as long as we stick to the game plan," he said.

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