Gariseb is players’ choice

BRAVE Warriors defensive stalwart Richard Gariseb’s efforts in helping his South African team gain promotion to the premiership earned him the Players’ Player of the Year award from his club Bidvest Wits at the weekend.

Gariseb, one of the most consistent defenders in Namibia, joined Bidvest Wits last season in the Mvela Golden League, and will n team mates for the award, while their star striker Boitumelo Moleyane walked away with the Player of the Season award. Bidvest Wits were relegated the previous season, but fought their way back to the elite league after concerted efforts by the players, which involved three Namibians – Gariseb, striker Paulus Shipanga and goalkeeper Danzyl Bruwer.Gariseb formerly played for the local Orlando Pirates club before leaving for South Africa, while Shipanga turned out for Blue Waters.Bruwer played for Civics before he left.All three players were signed up for one-year contracts with the club.The business manager for the players, Collin April, told The Namibian Sport yesterday that Gariseb had extended his contract by two more years.He said the club appreciated his commitment and discipline and wanted to keep him for two more seasons.April said Shipanga and Bruwer are free agents and are looking for other options, but are still with the club until they find new teams.Bruwer is said to be negotiating a contract with another Mvela Golden League team, while Shipanga is busy with negotiations with a PSL side from Cape Town.According to April, Shipanga is also considering a move to teams in Vietnam and China, but still has to decide between them and the PSL side.Another Namibian defender, Hartman Toromba, has already signed a pre-contract with Jomo Cosmos but is still sorting out his work permit, April said.The pre-contract gives the club first option to sign the player until the necessary documentation has been sorted out.Toromba, who last played for Black Africa, will possibly play for Cosmos next season, also pending the results of his medical tests.He has been training with the club for at least a month now.Another Namibian at the same club, Sedney Plaatjies, has been signed for two years by Cosmos and will possibly be included in the line-up next season after acquiring his permanent residence permit.Plaatjies, a former Blue Waters and Warriors winger, signed for Cosmos about three months ago.Former Ramblers hitman Costa Khaiseb, who is now back at home, has also signed a pre-contract with PSL side Bush Bucks and is waiting for a work permit to allow him to play.He has been training with the club alongside Namibia’s veteran midfielder Ricardo Mannetti.In fact, Mannetti’s contract with Bush Bucks expires at the end of this season, and it is not known if he will renew it or look for greener pastures.Other Namibian players in South Africa are midfield genius Quinton Jacobs, who still has three seasons to go with PSL side Ajax Cape Town, while midfielder Robert Nauseb is also looking for a new club according to April.Nauseb, a regular in the Brave Warriors squad, is an experienced player in midfield but his career has been plagued by injuries.Defenders Mohammed Ouseb, George Hummel and Henrico Botes have all cemented their places at PSL side Moroka Swallows and will be expected home after the last round of matches in that country.Asked about two African Stars players – strikers Johannes Malgas and Freedom Puriza – who recently went for trials at Swallows, April said the players were not professional enough and asked to come back home because they were homesick.April said South African coaches were extremely interested in Namibian players and were expected to come scouting here before the Namibian domestic season ends.The last matches in the Namibia Premier League (NPL) will be played at the end of this month.April said coaches such as Gavin Hunt, who signed up Botes and others, are expected to visit Namibia to look for talented players who can be signed up for next season.Bidvest Wits were relegated the previous season, but fought their way back to the elite league after concerted efforts by the players, which involved three Namibians – Gariseb, striker Paulus Shipanga and goalkeeper Danzyl Bruwer.Gariseb formerly played for the local Orlando Pirates club before leaving for South Africa, while Shipanga turned out for Blue Waters.Bruwer played for Civics before he left.All three players were signed up for one-year contracts with the club.The business manager for the players, Collin April, told The Namibian Sport yesterday that Gariseb had extended his contract by two more years.He said the club appreciated his commitment and discipline and wanted to keep him for two more seasons.April said Shipanga and Bruwer are free agents and are looking for other options, but are still with the club until they find new teams.Bruwer is said to be negotiating a contract with another Mvela Golden League team, while Shipanga is busy with negotiations with a PSL side from Cape Town.According to April, Shipanga is also considering a move to teams in Vietnam and China, but still has to decide between them and the PSL side.Another Namibian defender, Hartman Toromba, has already signed a pre-contract with Jomo Cosmos but is still sorting out his work permit, April said.The pre-contract gives the club first option to sign the player until the necessary documentation has been sorted out.Toromba, who last played for Black Africa, will possibly play for Cosmos next season, also pending the results of his medical tests.He has been training with the club for at least a month now.Another Namibian at the same club, Sedney Plaatjies, has been signed for two years by Cosmos and will possibly be included in the line-up next season after acquiring his permanent residence permit.Plaatjies, a former Blue Waters and Warriors winger, signed for Cosmos about three months ago.Former Ramblers hitman Costa Khaiseb, who is now back at home, has also signed a pre-contract with PSL side Bush Bucks and is waiting for a work permit to allow him to play.He has been training with the club alongside Namibia’s veteran midfielder Ricardo Mannetti.In fact, Mannetti’s contract with Bush Bucks expires at the end of this season, and it is not known if he will renew it or look for greener pastures.Other Namibian players in South Africa are midfield genius Quinton Jacobs, who still has three seasons to go with PSL side Ajax Cape Town, while midfielder Robert Nauseb is also looking for a new club according to April.Nauseb, a regular in the Brave Warriors squad, is an experienced player in midfield but his career has been plagued by injuries.Defenders Mohammed Ouseb, George Hummel and Henrico Botes have all cemented their places at PSL side Moroka Swallows and will be expected home after the last round of matches in that country.Asked about two African Stars players – strikers Johannes Malgas and Freedom Puriza – who recently went for trials at Swallows, April said the players were not professional enough and asked to come back home because they were homesick.April said South African coaches were extremely interested in Namibian players and were expected to come scouting here before the Namibian domestic season ends.The last matches in the Namibia Premier League (NPL) will be played at the end of this month.April said coaches such as Gavin Hunt, who signed up Botes and others, are expected to visit Namibia to look for talented players who can be signed up for next season.