ANOTHER experimental Brave Warriors’ side will take to the field against Swaziland in a friendly match in Manzini on Thursday, head coach Ricardo Mannetti said on Monday.
The match forms part of the 50th birthday celebrations of Swazi King Mswati III, and comes at an inopportune time for the Brave Warriors.
Not only does it fall outside a Fifa internationals date, but it also comes just days before crucial Debmarine Namibia Cup round of 16 ties, which take place at Walvis Bay and Windhoek over the weekend.
That latter fact has had a heavy bearing on the side that Mannetti is able to assemble for the friendly, with additional options limited by Namibia’s under-20 side hosting Botswana in a second-leg 2019 Caf u20 Africa Cup of Nations tie in Windhoek on Saturday.
For their come-from-behind 2-1 win over Lesotho last month, the Brave Warriors fielded four new caps and several other newcomers drafted from the junior national sides.
“There are about 10 new players who have been called up. The reason why I called up so many new faces is mainly because of the Debmarine Cup this weekend. For example, Black Africa wrote to inform us not to call up any of their players for this match.
“So, we called up mostly those who come from clubs which would not be in action this weekend, like Tigers and Young African [who have five and four representatives in the team],” said Mannetti, who will also not be making use of any foreign-based players.
He will, however, be able to call upon trusted regulars like captain Ronald Ketjijere of African Stars, and the Tura Magic trio of defender Charles Hambira, midfielder Petrus Shitembi and forward Itamunua Keimuine.
African Stars, who play third-tier Dynamos in the FA Cup on Saturday, have also made top scorer Panduleni Nekundi available for national selection.
“This is still a good team. Despite the many new faces, it is not to say we are not going to put on our best. We have enough experience in the side to guide the new guys, and even though it is a friendly, we still need to give a good account of ourselves,” Mannetti assured.
Given the uncomfortable timing of the encounter, the gaffer will only have Tuesday to assess the 27 players and select his 20-man travelling party before Wednesday’s morning’s departure.
But he is not complaining, seeing as Namibia find it hard to attract friendly internationals anyway. If anything, it presents him with the opportunity to run the rule over players who have shown potential to be part of the national set-up.
Inconsistent Tigers’ attacking midfielder Gustav Isaak falls into that bracket. Undoubtedly a very gifted player, Isaak has flattered only to deceive since breaking onto the scene as a prodigious teenager in 2011.
Also looking to stake regular call-ups are teammate Mapenzi Muwanei and African Stars’ indefatigable wing back Tjiuana Tja Tjinotjiua, who have both been on the periphery of the Brave Warriors for some time.
“It is an opportunity for them to put up their hand and say, ‘coach, have a look at me’, and who knows what may happen after that,” said Mannetti.
“Because we don’t usually have lots of friendlies, it is always do or die when we get one, and we have to play our strongest team. Now, we have a chance to test out a few players, so we’ll make use of it.
“I don’t expect too much from the new guys because it’s a learning experience for them. But that said, this is a match where they will need to give a good account of themselves,” he explained.
In the 27-member training squad are:
Ratanda Mbazuvara (African Stars), Immanuel Immanuel (Tigers), Edward Maova (Civics), Ferdinand Karongee (Tigers), Tjiuana Tja Tjinotjiua (African Stars), Kennedy Amutenya (Tigers), Rehabeam Mbango (Tigers), Donovan Kanjaa (Young African), Kennedy Eib (Mighty Gunners), Kleopas Useb (Life Fighters), Riaan !Hananub (Orlando Pirates), Charles Hambira (Tura Magic), Petrus Shitembi (Tura Magic), Ronald Ketjijere (African Stars) Gustav Isaak (Tigers), Himeezembi Hengombe (Young African), Elvis Patire (Young African), Marcel Papama (Unam), Ikuaterua Hoveka (Young African), Absalom Iimbondi (Tigers), Mapenzi Muwanei (Tigers), Willem Pinehas (Eleven Arrows), Vernon Klaazen (Mighty Gunners), Josef Nghifindwako (Eleven Arrows), Panduleni Nekundi (African Stars), Marius Hashipala (Blue Waters), and Itamunua Keimune (Tura Magic).
