Brave Warriors excited about Morocco friendly

THE Brave Warriors are reported to be in good spirits ahead of their mouth-watering friendly against North African football giants, Morocco, team manager Tim Isaaks, told The Namibian Sport in a telephonic interview from Morocco yesterday.

The match, which serves as a warm-up exercise for both sides ahead of the much-anticipated Africa Cup of Nations finals in Ghana next year, will be contested at the Rabat Sport Complex in Rabat. Namibia is boosted by the return of former skipper and top striker Henrico Botes, who plays for Silver Stars in the South African Premier League.The presence of the towering marksman will definitely add fire to the Warriors strike force.Botes, who is currently serving a two-match suspension, is joined by other South African-based internationals like defender Hartman Toromba, goalkeeper Ephraim Tjihonge (both of Black Leopards) and Mali Ngarizemo who plays for Mvela League club FC Cape Town.Ball-wizard Quinton Jacobs is expected to call the shots from the engine-room while Wilko Risser is the other overseas-based player in the squad.Said Isaaks: “The spirit is very high in the camp and the players all fired-up and excited to face the might of Morocco.We are planning to give the hosts a good run for their money because we are seriously preparing for the Nations Cup.”Our preparations have been excellent so far and our hosts have been good enough to us by providing us with first class facilities.The coach is happy with the condition of the players and the team is ready to do battle.”The match was moved to the 35 000 capacity Rabat Complex, which hosted the Olympic qualifier between Morocco and Cameroon last Sunday.Isaak reported an injury free squad and given the players at his disposal, coach Ben Bamfuchile is expected to field a competent team against the powerful Moroccans, who have a couple of World Cup experience behind them.The Brave Warriors have proved during recent outings against the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia and Libya that they are no pushovers, and with the playing one of the top countries on the continent they are expected to put up a battle royal.”The players know that they have to impress as the technical stuff is busy formulating the final squad for the Nations Cup, thus they must play to prove their worth.Some players could not make this trip due to various reasons and they will get their chance.”This is just one of many friendlies we have planned in order to prepare our team.We don’t expect an easy encounter against Morocco but we intend to make this trip worthwhile.It is very important that we perform to the best of our ability,” noted Isaaks.Eleven Arrows gifted goal-poacher Rudolph Bester is likely to start with Botes up-front, while qualifiers hero and “supersub” Muna Katupose is expected to start from the bench.The strike force looks potent as is and, added to the exciting attacking abilities of play-maker Quinton Jacobs, a big surprise could be in store for the hosts.Hartman Toromba, who has been in fine form for his professional club Leopards, will definitely add steel to the defence with his no-nonsense tackles, while the towering presence of Ramblers Michael Pienaar will once again bring stability to the heart of the Brave Warriors defence.Namibia has been a surprise package in this year’s Nations Cup qualifiers with a few welcome wins over Libya and Ethiopia but the real test will be tonight when they engage Morocco who are a hard nut to crack at home.But the Brave Warriors have proved to be a very tricky customer and one never knows what to expect from the team which made their Nations Cup debut during the 1998 finals in Burkina Fasso.It is thus very important that the boys out up a good performance against Morocco in order to attract other friendlies against similar powerful opposition from the continent.Namibia is boosted by the return of former skipper and top striker Henrico Botes, who plays for Silver Stars in the South African Premier League.The presence of the towering marksman will definitely add fire to the Warriors strike force.Botes, who is currently serving a two-match suspension, is joined by other South African-based internationals like defender Hartman Toromba, goalkeeper Ephraim Tjihonge (both of Black Leopards) and Mali Ngarizemo who plays for Mvela League club FC Cape Town.Ball-wizard Quinton Jacobs is expected to call the shots from the engine-room while Wilko Risser is the other overseas-based player in the squad.Said Isaaks: “The spirit is very high in the camp and the players all fired-up and excited to face the might of Morocco.We are planning to give the hosts a good run for their money because we are seriously preparing for the Nations Cup.”Our preparations have been excellent so far and our hosts have been good enough to us by providing us with first class facilities.The coach is happy with the condition of the players and the team is ready to do battle.”The match was moved to the 35 000 capacity Rabat Complex, which hosted the Olympic qualifier between Morocco and Cameroon last Sunday.Isaak reported an injury free squad and given the players at his disposal, coach Ben Bamfuchile is expected to field a competent team against the powerful Moroccans, who have a couple of World Cup experience behind them.The Brave Warriors have proved during recent outings against the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia and Libya that they are no pushovers, and with the playing one of the top countries on the continent they are expected to put up a battle royal.”The players know that they have to impress as the technical stuff is busy formulating the final squad for the Nations Cup, thus they must play to prove their worth.Some players could not make this trip due to various reasons and they will get their chance.”This is just one of many friendlies we have planned in order to prepare our team.We don’t expect an easy encounter against Morocco but we intend to make this trip worthwhile.It is very important that we perform to the best of our ability,” noted Isaaks.Eleven Arrows gifted goal-poacher Rudolph Bester is likely to start with Botes up-front, while qualifiers hero and “supersub” Muna Katupose is expected to start from the bench.The strike force looks potent as is and, added to the exciting attacking abilities of play-maker Quinton Jacobs, a big surprise could be in store for the hosts.Hartman Toromba, who has been in fine form for his professional club Leopards, will definitely add steel to the defence with his no-nonsense tackles, while the towering presence of Ramblers Michael Pienaar will once again bring stability to the heart of the Brave Warriors defence.Namibia has been a surprise package in this year’s Nations Cup qualifiers with a few welcome wins over Libya and Ethiopia but the real test will be tonight when they engage Morocco who are a hard nut to crack at home.But the Brave Warriors have proved to be a very tricky customer and one never knows what to expect from the team which made their Nations Cup debut during the 1998 finals in Burkina Fasso.It is thus very important that the boys out up a good performance against Morocco in order to attract other friendlies against similar powerful opposition from the continent.