The Brave Gladiators are awaiting the arrival of Twelikondjela Amukoto and Lina Katuta from the National Police Training Academy today while a friendly against Ghana on Tuesday has been cancelled due to the risk of injuries.
Fresh from their 3-1 win over Algeria on Saturday, the Gladiators held a training session at the NFA Technical Centre on Monday morning and according to head coach Jacqueline Shipanga the team is itching for action on Saturday when they open the championship against Zambia.
“The team showed on Saturday that we are ready for the championships. Of course we have identified some issues that we need to work on this week and we are right on them. The players’ attitude is also correct and they are all raring to go and do the nation proud,” she said.
Two players, defender Stacey Naris and midfielder Zenatha Coleman sat out the Monday morning session due to health issues.
“Stacey got a knock on her ankle and so it’s just a precaution that she sits out, while Zenatha Coleman has a headache which is troubling her but she will be fine as well,” Shipanga said.
Despite picking up a knock on her right thigh on Saturday during Namibia’s 3-1 victory against Algeria, midfielder Thomalina Adams joined the morning session which was conducted by assistant coach Brian Isaacs.
Still missing are defenders Twelikondjela Amukoto and Lina Katuta, but Shipanga revealed that they should be joining the team by Monday afternoon.
“I was told they will join the team today so by the afternoon session we will probably have them around. We still need to make a final decision on them depending on if they do arrive on time. We still have two players on stand-by in Anna (Shikesho) and Novata (Paulus) but we are not rushing anything yet,” she said.
Shipanga added that Woody Jacobs is no longer part of the Brave Gladiators Advisory Committee for the Championship due to personal commitments which leaves the committee with Bobby Samaria, Willem Kapukare, Timo Tjongarero, Bernard Kaanjuka and NFA Technical Director Klaus Starke.
The Gladiators will also no longer take on the Black Queens of Ghana on Tuesday in a friendly game as Shipanga looks to minimize the risk of injury ahead of the championship which starts on Saturday and ends 25 October in Windhoek. – nfa.org.na
