Troubled Brave Warriors preparations stall again

THE Tafel Lager Brave Warriors’ preparation for their match against Gambia hit another snag when it was revealed that they will now only arrive in Gambia barely 24 hours before their crucial Afcon qualifying match kicks-off on Saturday afternoon.

The Brave Warriors left Windhoek on Tuesday afternoon en route to Accra, Ghana, via Johannesburg. They arrived in Ghana at 03h30 yesterday morning and will remain there until later this evening when they fly to the Gambian capital of Banjul. They arrive in Banjul tomorrow morning where Namibia’s foreign based professionals will join them.
After a spate of withdrawals, including Razundara Tjikuzu and Rudolph Bester, Namibia will field only five foreign based professionals. They are Oliver and Wilko Risser and Collin Benjamin from Germany and Henrico Botes and Tangeni Shipahu from South Africa.
Coach Tom Saintfiet was not happy with the situation, saying that it would make it very difficult for Namibia to get a good result.
“Last week we had a very good training camp in Windhoek and I was very satisfied with the form of the home-based players. But the last few days have not gone so well.”
The team has not trained since last Friday and there have been some delays in the flights.
“I asked to arrive in Gambia on Tuesday evening so that we could have training sessions on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Then the NFA asked me if we could arrive on Wednesday, so that we could still train on Thursday and Friday. But now we will only arrive early Friday morning, so that will mean I will only see the full squad together on Friday afternoon, and I’m a little bit worried. It’s not the ideal preparation and we will only have one hour to go through our tactics, and that’s not realistic,” he said.
Saintfiet said they would do their best to get a good result, but added that under the circumstances this was not likely.
“At the moment I’m a bit pessimistic, and after the injury to Rudolf Bester, and the withdrawal of Razundara Tjikuzu, things dont look too good.”
“The moment we are on the pitch we will work hard and I will still go for a good result, but we have to be realistic and at the moment the odds are against us. We will need a lot of luck on our side, and everyone will have to be ready for it, to get a good result against Gambia,” he said.
Namibia’s players, meanwhile remained positive and upbeat ahead of the match. Defender Jamu Ngatjizeko, who was recently recalled to the national squad, after an absence of about a year, said it was great to be back.
“I’m really happy to be back in the squad. From here on forward, I have to work hard so that I can stay in the squad, but it’s great to be back.”
“Fitness-wise we are fine, it’s just that we lack a bit of match practise.
But I don’t think its such a big problem. We will manage.
He said they will put up a fight, and hope that they  get the best result from the game.Eleven Arrows winger, Edward “Fadiga” Asino, who has been part of the national training squad before, was selected for the final 18 for the first time.
“It feels really great to be in the senior squad, especially since its the first time that I’m part of the team with the foreign based players. So it feels great, and its going to be a good experience for me,” he said.
Civics’ attacking midfielder, Heini Isaacks, was initially dropped from the final 18 but was called up after Rudolf Bester pulled out with a hamstring injury. He said he was ready to perform for the Brave Warriors.
“First of all I’d like to wish Rudolf Bester a speedy recovery. I think I am definitely ready and I can take his place, or anyone’s place, in the team, and I think I can deliver.”
“We’ve been off for about three months, but in the friendly games that we have played for my club, as well as the national team, I think I have played well so far. As far as scoring is concerned, we will just have to wait and see,” he said.
African Stars midfielder, Ninja Karongee, who has cemented a place in the Brave Warriors squad over the past year, said the team was ready for the encounter.
“We are ready for the match, and we just have to go there, and show what we can do.
It’s great to be in the squad, but now I must just work hard and remain in the squad for each and every game that is coming,” he said.
- namibiasport.com.na

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