From the Sidelines

IT will be a bumper weekend on the sporting front, as Namibia will see both the national rugby and football teams in action, while the athletes will also battle it out on the track against several foreign countries.

The Brave Warriors meet Zambia in an international friendly at the Sam Nujoma Stadium on Saturday, while across the city, Namibia’s rugby team, dubbed The Welwitschias, will also take on Zambia in an African Confederations Cup tie at the Hage Geingob Stadium The younger generation of Namibian athletes are expected to set the track on fire as they go up against several countries from the region in the Southern Regional Senior Track and Field Championship at the Independence Stadium. It will be an action-packed weekend and nothing less than victory will be expected from the home sides.The Brave Warriors and coach Ben Bamfuchile, who will field the Warriors against his countrymen from Zambia, are the ones who will need a victory the most, despite it being a friendly match.The match is important , as it will serve as a warm-up ahead of the African Nations Cup qualifier against Libya at home on June 2, while it will also give the coach a chance to see which players will form part of the final training group.For the players it will be important as they will be required to win at all costs as it is a home match, while they will also have to fight to keep their places in the side.Bamfuchile will be going up against his country for the first time since he started coaching the Warriors last year and it won’t be pleasant for him to lose against them.This match will possibly serve as the last one to find his combinations.The Warriors just have to win, as they have lost two friendly matches so far.They lost 3-2 to Zimbabwe late last year, before they fell 1-0 to Botswana earlier this year.In friendlies, coaches tend to use the excuse that those are warm-up matches and they also use them to experiment with the team.Playing at home and in front of what is expected to be a capacity crowd, there is no time to experiment.Some of the foreign-based players are expected here today and tomorrow, but it will be good if the coach can use more locals to give them more international exposure.Some of the local players lack experience at the top level and friendly matches are ideal for them to learn the tricks of international football.The Warriors must go out there and win, irrespective of who plays on the day.As for the national rugby team, they have proven to be superior on home soil over the years.The match on Saturday is important for them to win, as it will gauge their strengths ahead of the Rugby World Cup in September in France.It is important preparation for their upcoming match against Romania too.It is unfortunate that there are currently legal wrangles going on in rugby, but I hope the players who will be involved in this game are not disturbed by this.It is a home tie, and like the Warriors, a must win.In athletics, Namibia will be represented by a rather youthful team against at least six countries who will be vying for honours at this event.Agnes Samaria and Stefan Louw will possibly be the only two senior athletes.The two should set the example and dominate in their respective disciplines at the two-day event.It will not be easy for the younger athletes, as the sport in the region has been competitive over the years.For the spectators and fans in these codes, it will be important to get to the stadiums well ahead of time.Last weekend saw another chaotic situation where football fans swamped the entry points and tried to force their way in while the match (Stars vs Pirates) was already in progress.With limited entry points at the Sam Nujoma Stadium, it will be advisable for fans to be at the stadium at least an hour before kick-off to avoid any stampedes like last year at the same venue.Innocent people are affected by the teargas used to prevent stampedes and this should be avoided.It will surely be a fantastic sporting weekend and may Namibia emerge victorious in all codes, but most importantly, may sport be the winner.It will be an action-packed weekend and nothing less than victory will be expected from the home sides.The Brave Warriors and coach Ben Bamfuchile, who will field the Warriors against his countrymen from Zambia, are the ones who will need a victory the most, despite it being a friendly match.The match is important , as it will serve as a warm-up ahead of the African Nations Cup qualifier against Libya at home on June 2, while it will also give the coach a chance to see which players will form part of the final training group.For the players it will be important as they will be required to win at all costs as it is a home match, while they will also have to fight to keep their places in the side.Bamfuchile will be going up against his country for the first time since he started coaching the Warriors last year and it won’t be pleasant for him to lose against them.This match will possibly serve as the last one to find his combinations.The Warriors just have to win, as they have lost two friendly matches so far.They lost 3-2 to Zimbabwe late last year, before they fell 1-0 to Botswana earlier this year.In friendlies, coaches tend to use the excuse that those are warm-up matches and they also use them to experiment with the team.Playing at home and in front of what is expected to be a capacity crowd, there is no time to experiment.Some of the foreign-based players are expected here today and tomorrow, but it will be good if the coach can use more locals to give them more international exposure.Some of the local players lack experience at the top level and friendly matches are ideal for them to learn the tricks of international football.The Warriors must go out there and win, irrespective of who plays on the day.As for the national rugby team, they have proven to be superior on home soil over the years.The match on Saturday is important for them to win, as it will gauge their strengths ahead of the Rugby World Cup in September in France.It is important preparation for their upcoming match against Romania too.It is unfortunate that there are currently legal wrangles going on in rugby, but I hope the players who will be involved in this game are not disturbed by this.It is a home tie, and like the Warriors, a must win.In athletics, Namibia will be represented by a rather youthful team against at least six countries who will be vying for honours at this event.Agnes Samaria and Stefan Louw will possibly be the only two senior athletes.The two should set the example and dominate in their respective disciplines at the two-day event.It will not be easy for the younger athletes, as the sport in the region has been competitive over the years.For the spectators and fans in these codes, it will be important to get to the stadiums well ahead of time.Last weekend saw another chaotic situation where football fans swamped the entry points and tried to force their way in while the match (Stars vs Pirates) was already in progress.With limited entry points at the Sam Nujoma Stadium, it will be advisable for fans to be at the stadium at least an hour before kick-off to avoid any stampedes like last year at the same venue.Innocent people are affected by the teargas used to prevent stampedes and this should be avoided.It will surely be a fantastic sporting weekend and may Namibia emerge victorious in all codes, but most importantly, may sport be the winner.