Warriors find redemption

By: CORRY IHUHUA

THOUSANDS of football supporters were sent into raptures by a late goal from mercurial striker Costa Khaiseb, which gave the Brave Warriors a 2-1 win over Kenya during their 2010 World Cup qualifier at the Independence Stadium on Saturday.

The win comes after two losses at home by Malawi and Zimbabwe,

while it was the first for coach Arie Schans since he took over

earlier this year.

The goal came with only three minutes to go before full time as

Kenya were hoping to settle for a draw in the first-leg match which

also served as a qualifier for the 2010 African Nations Cup to be

hosted by Angola.

 

The Kenyan defence was caught napping as Warriors striker Wilko

Risser ran in strongly into the box to give an incisive cross that

led to Khaiseb thunderously stabbing the ball into the net to give

the Namibians the winner.

 

The goal came at the right time for the throng of supporters who

were rallying behind the team as the match was destined for a

draw.

 

Risser, who undoubtedly had one of his best matches for the

Warriors, opened the scoring for the Warriors early in the first

half with a lovely volley he struck past the young Kenyan goalie,

Arnold Otieno.

 

The first half was drifting to a close with the Warriors fairly

in command of matters in the defence, midfield and upfront, but a

rebound from close range by Hartman Toromba saw Austin Makacha

registering the first goal for his country.

 

Toromba successfully headed the goal out of goal, but Makacha

was just in front of him to chest it back into the net and appeals

by the Namibian players for a handball did not deter the Burundian

referee.

 

But before that, Namibia has an exciting spell upfront with the

tricky Jomo Cosmos front man, Lazarus Kaimbi, serving a great

purpose on the far right with splendid crosses, while Risser was a

thorn in the side of the Kenyan defence with his physique.

 

Khaiseb, who was also in attack with Risser, showed his

big-match temperament with great runs around the defenders and

quick passes, while in midfield Jamu Ngatjizeko and Quinton Jacobs

held the ball well in the first half.

 

Also in the first half, Namibia survived two fantastic shots by

Kenyan danger man Denis Oliech, who tormented the left flank which

was manned by Richard Gariseb.

 

Oliech, who turns out for French powerhouse Auxere, switched

positions at will and swiftly took shots at goal which the Namibian

defence on the back-foot at times.

 

But great work from captain Michael Pienaar and Toromba and

goalie Athiel Mbaha kept his efforts out, especially in the first

half.

 

Namibia could have extended their lead after the introduction of

Rudolph Bester for Brian Brendell in the second half, as one of his

shots flew past the upright, while a lovely header into the small

box by Risser could also not be picked up by any of his

team-mates.

 

Jacobs, who looked exhausted in the second half, gave way to

Tugela Tuyeni, who proved effective in that role despite the match

winding down, while earlier, Kaimbi was replaced by the fast-paced

Pineas Jacob upfront.

 

Jacob had two decent crosses after he came on, but was blocked

out in the later stages of the match, while Bester had more chances

after he made his entrance.

 

The foreign-based players helped the cause for Namibia as they

injected the needed experience and the hunger was clear on their

faces ahead of the match.

 

Schans has been in charge for nine games now and has lost six

times with two draws.

 

He signed a three-year contract with the Namibia Football

Association (NFA) at the end of last month and his mandate is to

make a success of the team through the qualifiers.

 

The goal came with only three minutes to go before full time as

Kenya were hoping to settle for a draw in the first-leg match which

also served as a qualifier for the 2010 African Nations Cup to be

hosted by Angola.The Kenyan defence was caught napping as Warriors

striker Wilko Risser ran in strongly into the box to give an

incisive cross that led to Khaiseb thunderously stabbing the ball

into the net to give the Namibians the winner.The goal came at the

right time for the throng of supporters who were rallying behind

the team as the match was destined for a draw.Risser, who

undoubtedly had one of his best matches for the Warriors, opened

the scoring for the Warriors early in the first half with a lovely

volley he struck past the young Kenyan goalie, Arnold Otieno.The

first half was drifting to a close with the Warriors fairly in

command of matters in the defence, midfield and upfront, but a

rebound from close range by Hartman Toromba saw Austin Makacha

registering the first goal for his country.Toromba successfully

headed the goal out of goal, but Makacha was just in front of him

to chest it back into the net and appeals by the Namibian players

for a handball did not deter the Burundian referee.But before that,

Namibia has an exciting spell upfront with the tricky Jomo Cosmos

front man, Lazarus Kaimbi, serving a great purpose on the far right

with splendid crosses, while Risser was a thorn in the side of the

Kenyan defence with his physique.Khaiseb, who was also in attack

with Risser, showed his big-match temperament with great runs

around the defenders and quick passes, while in midfield Jamu

Ngatjizeko and Quinton Jacobs held the ball well in the first

half.Also in the first half, Namibia survived two fantastic shots

by Kenyan danger man Denis Oliech, who tormented the left flank

which was manned by Richard Gariseb.Oliech, who turns out for

French powerhouse Auxere, switched positions at will and swiftly

took shots at goal which the Namibian defence on the back-foot at

times.But great work from captain Michael Pienaar and Toromba and

goalie Athiel Mbaha kept his efforts out, especially in the first

half.Namibia could have extended their lead after the introduction

of Rudolph Bester for Brian Brendell in the second half, as one of

his shots flew past the upright, while a lovely header into the

small box by Risser could also not be picked up by any of his

team-mates.Jacobs, who looked exhausted in the second half, gave

way to Tugela Tuyeni, who proved effective in that role despite the

match winding down, while earlier, Kaimbi was replaced by the

fast-paced Pineas Jacob upfront.Jacob had two decent crosses after

he came on, but was blocked out in the later stages of the match,

while Bester had more chances after he made his entrance.The

foreign-based players helped the cause for Namibia as they injected

the needed experience and the hunger was clear on their faces ahead

of the match.Schans has been in charge for nine games now and has

lost six times with two draws.He signed a three-year contract with

the Namibia Football Association (NFA) at the end of last month and

his mandate is to make a success of the team through the

qualifiers.

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