Kanalelo confident of a win

Kanalelo confident of a win

BRAVE Warriors assistant coach Ronnie Kanalelo said he does not expect a difficult match against Malawi when the two countries take each other on in a friendly match in Blantyre today.

The match will be part of Malawi’s Independence celebrations and will also serve as a warm up for Namibia, ahead of their Cosafa Castle Cup encounter against Botswana later this month. Kanalelo said he knows the type of football that Malawi plays and does not fear them, while maintaining that it will not be too difficult to beat them despite them playing at home.With the absence of head coach Ben Bamfuchile due to illness during that match, Kanalelo and Brian Isaacs will both act as coaches on the day, an unusual situation for a national team.When asked about their dual role for the match, Kanalelo explained that they will both be in charge and will share the responsibilities accordingly.”We are both going there on an equal footing.There is no head coach, we will work together as we normally do,” was Kanalelo’s response.Malawi lost 3-2 to Namibia in their last match during a meaningless third-place play off during last year’s Cosafa Castle Cup in Windhoek.Kanalelo and Isaacs were also part of the set-up during that match.Kanalelo said he has played in Malawi as a player himself and knows the conditions and the players in that country.”It will just be another match for us.We are well prepared for it and I don’t think Malawi will be such a strong challenge to us,” he said this week at a new kit presentation for the team by Castle Brewing Namibia.Kanalelo and Isaacs travelled with a relatively lightweight squad of 16 players, who have mostly been drawn from teams in the domestic league.The only professional player will be goalkeeper Abisai Shiningayamwe who will take over the captaincy from African Stars defender Mali Ngarizemo.Ngarizemo led the group of locals during the practice sessions and also spoke on behalf of the players at the presentation.He said the team looks good, despite the absence of most foreign-based players, but was confident of a win.The side trained for at least two weeks before this match and according to Ngarizemo, the fitness level is outstanding and promises a good result for Namibia.He said a win will put the players in a more confident mood ahead of the Cosafa Cup and it will also be a good platform for the local players to prove themselves in the absence of some key players.”This is a good chance for all of us to prove ourselves to the technical staff, but most importantly, we are going for a win,” he said.Isaacs said the absence of the foreign-based players would not affect the team negatively, because all the players in the side have worked hard to be picked for the encounter.The two assistant coaches drew in Civics playmaker Dumisa Jantze and the towering African Stars striker Gerson Katjatenja, to beef up the team in the absence of prominent players.Eleven Arrows defender Chris Katjiukua has also left with the team and for both him and Katjatenja, it will be the first time to go on national duty.Earlier, The Namibian Sport reported that Jantze has never played on senior level, but in fact, the former Tigers midfielder played a match during the 2001 Cosafa Castle Cup against Mauritius.In that match, he came on as a substitute in the 89th minute, which Namibia ultimately lost 1-0.He also played for Namibia in a Swaziland Trade Fair tournament under former Namibian coach Ted Dumitru.Katjatenja is expected to lead the attack today with Rudolph Bester either on the left flank or behind the strikers, while other options in the front-line could be Patrick Jagger, Eddy Simenda and Muna Katupose.In midfield, players such as Jamu Ngatjizeko, Brian Brendell and Tara Katupose will all be relied on.Ngarizemo will be expected to command the defence and he will going into that role with the assistance of Franklin April Jeremia Baisako, Gottlieb Nakuta and Katjiukua.Athiel Mbaha and Shiningayamwe will vie for the number one jersey between the sticks.Kanalelo said he knows the type of football that Malawi plays and does not fear them, while maintaining that it will not be too difficult to beat them despite them playing at home.With the absence of head coach Ben Bamfuchile due to illness during that match, Kanalelo and Brian Isaacs will both act as coaches on the day, an unusual situation for a national team.When asked about their dual role for the match, Kanalelo explained that they will both be in charge and will share the responsibilities accordingly.”We are both going there on an equal footing.There is no head coach, we will work together as we normally do,” was Kanalelo’s response.Malawi lost 3-2 to Namibia in their last match during a meaningless third-place play off during last year’s Cosafa Castle Cup in Windhoek.Kanalelo and Isaacs were also part of the set-up during that match.Kanalelo said he has played in Malawi as a player himself and knows the conditions and the players in that country.”It will just be another match for us.We are well prepared for it and I don’t think Malawi will be such a strong challenge to us,” he said this week at a new kit presentation for the team by Castle Brewing Namibia.Kanalelo and Isaacs travelled with a relatively lightweight squad of 16 players, who have mostly been drawn from teams in the domestic league.The only professional player will be goalkeeper Abisai Shiningayamwe who will take over the captaincy from African Stars defender Mali Ngarizemo.Ngarizemo led the group of locals during the practice sessions and also spoke on behalf of the players at the presentation.He said the team looks good, despite the absence of most foreign-based players, but was confident of a win.The side trained for at least two weeks before this match and according to Ngarizemo, the fitness level is outstanding and promises a good result for Namibia.He said a win will put the players in a more confident mood ahead of the Cosafa Cup and it will also be a good platform for the local players to prove themselves in the absence of some key players.”This is a good chance for all of us to prove ourselves to the technical staff, but most importantly, we are going for a win,” he said.Isaacs said the absence of the foreign-based players would not affect the team negatively, because all the players in the side have worked hard to be picked for the encounter.The two assistant coaches drew in Civics playmaker Dumisa Jantze and the towering African Stars striker Gerson Katjatenja, to beef up the team in the absence of prominent players.Eleven Arrows defender Chris Katjiukua has also left with the team and for both him and Katjatenja, it will be the first time to go on national duty.Earlier, The Namibian Sport reported that Jantze has never played on senior level, but in fact, the former Tigers midfielder played a match during the 2001 Cosafa Castle Cup against Mauritius.In that match, he came on as a substitute in the 89th minute, which Namibia ultimately lost 1-0.He also played for Namibia in a Swaziland Trade Fair tournament under former Namibian coach Ted Dumitru.Katjatenja is expected to lead the attack today with Rudolph Bester either on the left flank or behind the strikers, while other options in the front-line could be Patrick Jagger, Eddy Simenda and Muna Katupose.In midfield, players such as Jamu Ngatjizeko, Brian Brendell and Tara Katupose will all be relied on.Ngarizemo will be expected to command the defence and he will going into that role with the assistance of Franklin April Jeremia Baisako, Gottlieb Nakuta and Katjiukua.Athiel Mbaha and Shiningayamwe will vie for the number one jersey between the sticks.

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