Namibia beat Jomo Cosmos

NAMIBIA beat Jomo Cosmos 2-0 in a friendly match in Johannesburg yesterday.

It was a much better performance by the Brave Warriors after they lost 5-0 to Mamelodi Sundowns last Friday. The Brave Warriors’ team manager, Markus Damaseb, told The Namibian that they had a full squad to choose from and were able to call on most of their South African-based professionals, after only 13 locally based players were available for the Sundowns match.National coach Ben Bamfuchile made several changes at halftime and gave all the Namibian players a run.Victor Helu and Freedom Puriza were included from the start of the match and both put in good performances.Both goals were scored in the first half.Helu opened the scoring when he received the ball from a corner and slammed a cracking volley into the corner of the net.A few minutes later Costa Khaiseb beat the offside trap after receiving a defence-splitting pass, and beat the Cosmos goalie from close range.According to Damaseb, Namibia squandered many more goalscoring opportunities in the second half.”We could have easily won the match 8-0.Henrico Botes missed at least three goals, Michael Pienaar missed a sitter and Costa Khaiseb also missed a few,” he said.Damaseb said Bamfuchile was encouraged by the performance, although he was still not happy with the marking by the defence.Damaseb added that the spirit in the camp was good, with the professionals helping to calm the younger players down.”The professional players are encouraging the younger players a lot.They are all determined and want to win against the DRC,” he said.Damaseb said Quinton Jacobs of Ajax Cape Town would join the squad today, but Collin Benjamin had to withdraw after being injured in a league match for Hamburg on Sunday.He added that Meraai Swartbooi of Angolan champions Primero Agosto would also miss the match due to injury.Damaseb said they hoped to fit in another friendly match before the team leaves for the DRC on Friday morning.They had held talks with Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates but were still awaiting a reply, Damaseb said.The Brave Warriors’ team manager, Markus Damaseb, told The Namibian that they had a full squad to choose from and were able to call on most of their South African-based professionals, after only 13 locally based players were available for the Sundowns match.National coach Ben Bamfuchile made several changes at halftime and gave all the Namibian players a run.Victor Helu and Freedom Puriza were included from the start of the match and both put in good performances.Both goals were scored in the first half.Helu opened the scoring when he received the ball from a corner and slammed a cracking volley into the corner of the net.A few minutes later Costa Khaiseb beat the offside trap after receiving a defence-splitting pass, and beat the Cosmos goalie from close range.According to Damaseb, Namibia squandered many more goalscoring opportunities in the second half.”We could have easily won the match 8-0.Henrico Botes missed at least three goals, Michael Pienaar missed a sitter and Costa Khaiseb also missed a few,” he said.Damaseb said Bamfuchile was encouraged by the performance, although he was still not happy with the marking by the defence.Damaseb added that the spirit in the camp was good, with the professionals helping to calm the younger players down.”The professional players are encouraging the younger players a lot.They are all determined and want to win against the DRC,” he said.Damaseb said Quinton Jacobs of Ajax Cape Town would join the squad today, but Collin Benjamin had to withdraw after being injured in a league match for Hamburg on Sunday.He added that Meraai Swartbooi of Angolan champions Primero Agosto would also miss the match due to injury.Damaseb said they hoped to fit in another friendly match before the team leaves for the DRC on Friday morning.They had held talks with Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates but were still awaiting a reply, Damaseb said.