Elated Warriors arrive home

BRAVE Warriors coach Ben Bamfuchile has admitted that he didn’t have much faith in Namibian football about four years ago, but he now feels that the country has an abundance of talent and he is happy to mould them into shape.

He said this yesterday when he arrived back in Windhoek with the team after their qualification for the 2008 African Nations Cup, which will be held in Ghana. The Warriors were welcomed at the airport by hordes of trumpeting supporters who waited for the team for more than eight hours after their flight from Ethiopia via South Africa was delayed.The players mingled with fans and dished out autographs, hugs and kisses.Bamfuchile said he was approached by current Namibia Football Association (NFA) president John Muinjo about four years ago to coach the national team, but declined the offer.He said at the time he thought Namibia was not a force in football and could not waste his time coaching a team that would go nowhere.He said he was surprised by the talent and the determination of the Namibian players.Bamfuchile, who was appointed as the coach last year, said he now fully believes that the talent Namibia has can bring the country far.He said he has a lot of confidence in the team and he has a lot of respect for his players and the job they did for their country.The Zambian-born coach said his players have also shown him a lot of respect and he appreciated their discipline and professionalism.Also at the airport, Deputy Minister of Sport Pohamba Shifeta said Government was happy with the team’s performance and that they need to work hard from now on.He said the team should be kept in camp until January, the month in which the tournament kicks off in Ghana.It is the second time that Namibia has qualified for the tournament.They last played in the 1998 tournament held in Burkina Faso.Namibia Football Consortium (NFC) representative Kavee Rijatua said the sponsors were also pleased with the performance of the team and were looking forward to renewing the contract with the NFA.The Warriors were welcomed at the airport by hordes of trumpeting supporters who waited for the team for more than eight hours after their flight from Ethiopia via South Africa was delayed.The players mingled with fans and dished out autographs, hugs and kisses.Bamfuchile said he was approached by current Namibia Football Association (NFA) president John Muinjo about four years ago to coach the national team, but declined the offer.He said at the time he thought Namibia was not a force in football and could not waste his time coaching a team that would go nowhere.He said he was surprised by the talent and the determination of the Namibian players.Bamfuchile, who was appointed as the coach last year, said he now fully believes that the talent Namibia has can bring the country far.He said he has a lot of confidence in the team and he has a lot of respect for his players and the job they did for their country.The Zambian-born coach said his players have also shown him a lot of respect and he appreciated their discipline and professionalism.Also at the airport, Deputy Minister of Sport Pohamba Shifeta said Government was happy with the team’s performance and that they need to work hard from now on.He said the team should be kept in camp until January, the month in which the tournament kicks off in Ghana.It is the second time that Namibia has qualified for the tournament.They last played in the 1998 tournament held in Burkina Faso.Namibia Football Consortium (NFC) representative Kavee Rijatua said the sponsors were also pleased with the performance of the team and were looking forward to renewing the contract with the NFA.