Brave Warriors impress Isaaks

NAMIBIA national soccer team manager Tim Isaaks has expressed satisfaction with the Brave Warriors’ performance during their international friendly against African powerhouse Morocco at the Rabat Sport Complex on Wednesday night.

The score remained 0-0 at half-time. Morocco, who are currently ranked sixth in Africa and 38th in the world compared to Namibia’s 28th and 108th places in Africa and the world respectively, netted their opening goal in the 59th minute with the second late in the closing stages of the match.According to Isaaks, Namibia started the match well and managed to keep their composure in the opening stanza, however, concentration, or rather the lack of it, seems to be their biggest reason for conceding two late goals.”I am overall happy with our performance.It was really nice to see the boys keeping out Morocco, who were playing with all their professionals except for one local player, for most part of what was really an exciting game.”The first goal came as a result of a nice build-up from the hosts which was led to a nice one-twos between the scorer and a team-mate before the former slotted home.The second goal came in the dying minutes from a corner which was headed in from an unmarked player,” the Warriors’ team manager noted.Namibia played a highly attacking game which saw them converting to the four-four-two system.South Africa-based striker and former skipper Henrico Botes and Eleven Arrows goal-poacher Rudolph Bester started up front.The four-man midfield was built around the tricky Quinton ‘Magic’ Jacobs who had a free role as playmaker, a role which the European-based former Black Africa ball magician carried out with distinction, according to Isaaks.Ramblers’ all-rounder Jeremiah Baisako played as a wide midfielder on the left with Brian Brendel of Civics taking up the other wing-back spot on the right.Jamu Ngatjizeko, also of Civics, played as the holding midfielder.The defence, which was led by the ever-improving Michael Pienaar of Ramblers, also consisted of Blue Waters’ fast-rising right-back Gottlieb Nakuta, with Civics’ stalwart Franklin April playing on the left.Hartman Toromba, who plays for Black Leopards in South Africa, joined the towering Pienaar in the centre of defence in front of deaf-mute goal-tender Athiel Mbaha, who has joined team-of-the-moment Orlando Pirates this season.The Brave Warriors’ next assignment will be another friendly against the might of Saudi Arabia on November 2.Morocco, who are currently ranked sixth in Africa and 38th in the world compared to Namibia’s 28th and 108th places in Africa and the world respectively, netted their opening goal in the 59th minute with the second late in the closing stages of the match.According to Isaaks, Namibia started the match well and managed to keep their composure in the opening stanza, however, concentration, or rather the lack of it, seems to be their biggest reason for conceding two late goals.”I am overall happy with our performance.It was really nice to see the boys keeping out Morocco, who were playing with all their professionals except for one local player, for most part of what was really an exciting game.”The first goal came as a result of a nice build-up from the hosts which was led to a nice one-twos between the scorer and a team-mate before the former slotted home.The second goal came in the dying minutes from a corner which was headed in from an unmarked player,” the Warriors’ team manager noted.Namibia played a highly attacking game which saw them converting to the four-four-two system.South Africa-based striker and former skipper Henrico Botes and Eleven Arrows goal-poacher Rudolph Bester started up front.The four-man midfield was built around the tricky Quinton ‘Magic’ Jacobs who had a free role as playmaker, a role which the European-based former Black Africa ball magician carried out with distinction, according to Isaaks.Ramblers’ all-rounder Jeremiah Baisako played as a wide midfielder on the left with Brian Brendel of Civics taking up the other wing-back spot on the right.Jamu Ngatjizeko, also of Civics, played as the holding midfielder.The defence, which was led by the ever-improving Michael Pienaar of Ramblers, also consisted of Blue Waters’ fast-rising right-back Gottlieb Nakuta, with Civics’ stalwart Franklin April playing on the left.Hartman Toromba, who plays for Black Leopards in South Africa, joined the towering Pienaar in the centre of defence in front of deaf-mute goal-tender Athiel Mbaha, who has joined team-of-the-moment Orlando Pirates this season.The Brave Warriors’ next assignment will be another friendly against the might of Saudi Arabia on November 2.