Johnson worried about injuries

By: CORRY IHUHUA

NAMIBIAN national football coach Max Johnson said if he had his way, no Brave Warriors players would have been allowed to turn out for their clubs in the Namibia Football Association (NFA) Cup quarter-finals this weekend.

Johnson told The Namibian Sport in an interview that he would have

ordered the players to take a break this weekend, as they are

facing Botswana the following weekend in a must-win Cosafa Castle

Cup match in Windhoek.

"I have 13 players who will be involved in the NFA Cup this

weekend, and it worries me because they might pick up injuries and

it might throw our plans into jeopardy against Botswana next

weekend," he said.

 

He said although each team wants to go through to the

semi-finals of the competition, he was not entirely happy that the

national team players should play for their clubs ahead of an

important international encounter.

 

"There is a lot of money involved and the teams want their best

players around.

 

At this stage I cannot do anything because it is beyond my

control.

 

I just hope that they come out of the competition without

injuries so that we can start focusing on or preparations

again."

 

The players will be given the weekend off and are allowed to

play for their clubs.

 

Brave Warriors goalkeeper and first choice at Blue Waters,

Athiel Mbaha, said he has to go and play for his team, who face

Tigers in the first quarter-final match, "because there is a lot of

money at stake".

 

"I know that players might get injured, but this competition is

big and no player wants to miss it.

 

I want to be part of the action; so do the other players," he

said.

 

Johnson said he was happy that several players in the national

training camp will be off-duty this weekend because their clubs

have been eliminated.

 

Johnson, his assistants Sandro de Gouveia, David Snewe and

Ronnie Kanalelo, the goalkeeper coach, started training with a

squad of 24 players on Monday ahead of the Cosafa match scheduled

for April 16.

 

In this group, four players are currently nursing injuries.

 

Blue Waters winger Paulus Shipanga is still receiving treatment

for his hamstring injury and according to the team medic, Donatha

Gawanas, he will be in shape for the Botswana match.

 

She, however, suggested that Shipanga sit out the weekend match

against Tigers, as the Warriors would need him for the Botswana

match.

 

The other players still receiving treatment are defender Steven

Tjeenao (hip injury) and midfielder Brian Gurirab (chin), who were

injured during their recent exhibition match against the Shadow

Team selected at The Namibian Newspaper Cup in Mariental.

 

Gawanab said midfielder Congo Hondjou is making good progress on

his ankle and trained with his team mates yesterday.

 

Black Africa, who have five players in the national squad, are

expected to field them all for their NFA Cup quarter-final match

against Rundu Chiefs, while Blue Waters are expected to have Mbaha

in goal, while Sydney Plaatjies, who also forms part of the

Warriors, is expected to play in attack for the coastal

side.

 

"I have 13 players who will be involved in the NFA Cup this

weekend, and it worries me because they might pick up injuries and

it might throw our plans into jeopardy against Botswana next

weekend," he said.He said although each team wants to go through to

the semi-finals of the competition, he was not entirely happy that

the national team players should play for their clubs ahead of an

important international encounter."There is a lot of money involved

and the teams want their best players around.At this stage I cannot

do anything because it is beyond my control.I just hope that they

come out of the competition without injuries so that we can start

focusing on or preparations again."The players will be given the

weekend off and are allowed to play for their clubs.Brave Warriors

goalkeeper and first choice at Blue Waters, Athiel Mbaha, said he

has to go and play for his team, who face Tigers in the first

quarter-final match, "because there is a lot of money at stake"."I

know that players might get injured, but this competition is big

and no player wants to miss it.I want to be part of the action; so

do the other players," he said.Johnson said he was happy that

several players in the national training camp will be off-duty this

weekend because their clubs have been eliminated.Johnson, his

assistants Sandro de Gouveia, David Snewe and Ronnie Kanalelo, the

goalkeeper coach, started training with a squad of 24 players on

Monday ahead of the Cosafa match scheduled for April 16.In this

group, four players are currently nursing injuries.Blue Waters

winger Paulus Shipanga is still receiving treatment for his

hamstring injury and according to the team medic, Donatha Gawanas,

he will be in shape for the Botswana match.She, however, suggested

that Shipanga sit out the weekend match against Tigers, as the

Warriors would need him for the Botswana match.The other players

still receiving treatment are defender Steven Tjeenao (hip injury)

and midfielder Brian Gurirab (chin), who were injured during their

recent exhibition match against the Shadow Team selected at The

Namibian Newspaper Cup in Mariental.Gawanab said midfielder Congo

Hondjou is making good progress on his ankle and trained with his

team mates yesterday.Black Africa, who have five players in the

national squad, are expected to field them all for their NFA Cup

quarter-final match against Rundu Chiefs, while Blue Waters are

expected to have Mbaha in goal, while Sydney Plaatjies, who also

forms part of the Warriors, is expected to play in attack for the

coastal side.

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