Barnes urges Brave Warriors to unite

FORMER Liverpool great John Barnes has urged the Brave Warriors to develop the right attitude, a sense of togetherness and to remain disciplined in their quest for success at the African Nations Cup next year.

Barnes, who is on a four-day visit to Namibia, urged the national side, which recently qualified for Ghana 2008 after beating Ethiopia 3-2, to develop a passion for what they do and to remain focused on the job at hand when they get there. He said despite the fact that Namibia will face some of the biggest football-playing nations on the continent, he still believes that with the right attitude, mentality and with players pulling together as a unit during their preparations and at the actual tournament, they could be a surprise package and make it to the final.He used the example of the Greek national football side, which shocked the world by winning the 2004 European Cup despite being regarded as mere minnows ahead of the event.Barnes said the players, especially the ones who are playing abroad, should also have the right spirit and dedication when playing for their national side.He said foreign-based players sometimes tend to do their best for their clubs outside the country, but do not give the same commitment to their national sides.He said players should be selfless and unify in any cause for their country.Barnes, who also played for Watford and England during his illustrious career that won him many trophies, said he was happy to come to Namibia, one of the few countries that he had never visited in Africa.”I have been all over Africa, to countries such as Burundi, South Africa, Ghana, Nigeria and others, but I have never been to Namibia.I was really looking forward to this trip.People are honourable and do things in the correct manner here,” he said.Barnes and former world karate champion Jeff Thompson will be speakers at the launch of the Personality of the Year award tomorrow.He said despite the fact that Namibia will face some of the biggest football-playing nations on the continent, he still believes that with the right attitude, mentality and with players pulling together as a unit during their preparations and at the actual tournament, they could be a surprise package and make it to the final.He used the example of the Greek national football side, which shocked the world by winning the 2004 European Cup despite being regarded as mere minnows ahead of the event.Barnes said the players, especially the ones who are playing abroad, should also have the right spirit and dedication when playing for their national side.He said foreign-based players sometimes tend to do their best for their clubs outside the country, but do not give the same commitment to their national sides.He said players should be selfless and unify in any cause for their country.Barnes, who also played for Watford and England during his illustrious career that won him many trophies, said he was happy to come to Namibia, one of the few countries that he had never visited in Africa.”I have been all over Africa, to countries such as Burundi, South Africa, Ghana, Nigeria and others, but I have never been to Namibia.I was really looking forward to this trip.People are honourable and do things in the correct manner here,” he said.Barnes and former world karate champion Jeff Thompson will be speakers at the launch of the Personality of the Year award tomorrow.