July 2001 Sport News Headlines

Wednesday, July 18, 2001 - Web posted at 10:15:12 GMT

Full strength Senegal arrive for key clash
HELGE SCHUTZ

A FULL strength Senegalese team arrived in Windhoek last night for Saturday's crucial World Cup qualifier against Namibia, while the Brave Warriors received a mysterious incentive of US$200 000 to win the match.

The match was originally scheduled to take place on Saturday July 28, but Fifa have brought it and the Algeria-Egypt match forward by a week.

Both clashes, which will determine who qualifies for the World Cup, will start at the same time on Saturday.

Although the match is of little significance for Namibia, it is crucial for Senegal, who still have an outside chance of reaching the World Cup finals for the first time in their history.

If Senegal and Egypt beat their opponents on Saturday, they will equal Morocco's 15 points at the top of Group C.

The group winners will then be decided by goal aggregate and Senegal will need at least three goals to better Egypt's aggregate of nine goals.

Meanwhile, the Brave Warriors have received a mysterious incentive of US$200 000 to win Saturday's match from an Egyptian businessman from the United States.

In an e-mail addressed to the president of the Namibia Football Association, Petrus Damaseb, the founder of Factory Direct Industries of the USA, Mahmod Zayed made an "official offer to the Namibian Football Association and the Namibian people of US$200 000 as an incentive for the following:If Namibia win the match they will receive US$100 000 and if they draw the match they will receive US$50 000.

Each Namibian player who scores a goal against Egypt will receive US$20 000, while the NFA will receive a similar amount for each goal.

"In the case of a Namibian victory, we will pay the full costs to a two week camp for the Namibian team in the US including air fares and visas. Your prompt acceptance of my offer within 24 hours will allow us to prepare the transfer of the funds in an escrow account at one of our South African correspondent banks," the e-mail adds.

Despite several attempts, Damaseb could not be reached for comment on the offer yesterday.

Namibian national coach Smithley Engelbrecht has added two players to the squad which lost 8-2 to Egypt last Friday.

Quinton Jacobs returns after being suspended for the Egypt match, while defender Theodor Tom returns after a long absence through illness."

"Michael Pienaar is struggling with an injury and we need someone who is experienced, strong and fast to cover for him, that's why I brought Tom in," Engelbrecht said.

He said the Brave Warriors had undergone an intensive training programme at the Virgin Active gym yesterday and that they would only have a light training session this morning.

They will play a friendly match against Young Ones at 18h00 at the Independence Stadium tonight.

Meanwhile the NFA has announced that VIP tickets for the match will cost N$200, while the Open and Grand Stand tickets will cost N$20.

The tickets will be on sale at the following centres:NFA office for VIP tickets; Street House, The Sport Shop, Tre Supermarket, Pikeue Restaurant, Acapulco/J&P Group, Independence Restaurant, Namibia Motor Clinic, Oshakati Service Station, B&G Supermarket and Unam.

Transport to and from Independence Stadium will be provided to the public free of charge.

Transport to Independence Stadium will be between 12h30 and 14h30 at the following pick-up points:Goreangab/Katutura:Supa Dupa Supermarket (Goreangab Bus Stop), Oshakati Service Station (Wanaheda), Namibia Motor Clinic (BP Service Station - Soweto), Black Chain, Central Shops (opposite Pikeue Restaurant)Khomasdal/Otjomuise/Pionierspark:Park Foods, Windhoek College of Education, Beukes Spar (B&G Supermarket), Otjomuise Bus Stop, Unam.

Okuryangava/Katutura East/Central town:Okuryangava Bus Stop (Independence Restaurant), Acapulco, Hakahana Service Station, Rhino Park, Bachbrecht Post Office, Polytechnic of Namibia.

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