Namibia Chan training squad named

BRAVE WARRIORS head coach Ricardo Mannetti said on Tuesday he was planning for and beyond the African Nations Championships when announcing a youthful 31-member squad training for the tournament.

Mannetti included promising youngsters like Chief Santos defender Kennedy Eib, Young Chiefs left winger Jackson Johannes, under-20 internationals Calvyn Spiegel from Chief Santos and Hubert Mingeri of Life Fighters FC to his preliminary squad which begins training this week.

The squad will be trimmed to 28 this weekend with the final 23-man team to be announced in early January.

“It is up to these players to show that they can cut it. If not, we still have the core to depend on,” Mannetti told reporters in Windhoek.

With an eye on the remaining 2019 Africa Nations Cup qualifiers early next year, the subsequent finals and Cosafa Cup tournament to contend with, Mannetti is keen to blood several youngsters.

“It is always important that we have young players coming through and who can grow with the team. I am not saying they are all going to Chan or they will be starters if they do.

“But I don’t want to run around doing damage control if one of the regular senior guys are not available.

“They are there for depth and to be integrated into the current squad. We did the same with the likes of Wangu [Batista Gome] and Peter [Shalulile] not so long ago,” Mannetti explained.

The core of the team that qualified for a first continental tournament in 10 years remains intact. However, Mannetti most notably left out a favourite of his in hard-working Tura Magic striker Itamunua Keimuine, whose “goal return for the national team has been poor”.

Another regular, Benjamin Nenkavu, is part of the training squad but the Tigers wing back is facing a race against time to prove he has sufficiently recovered from a recurring knee injury in order to be part of Mannetti’s plans in Morocco.

After this week’s training camp, the Brave Warriors will set up camp in Tunisia after Christmas where they will play at least three warm-up matches against fellow Chan competitors before leaving for their base in Marrakesh on 11 January.

Namibia begin their Chan assault in Morocco on 14 January against Ivory Coast, followed by a date with Uganda on 18 January and a match-up with Zambia on 22 January concludes their Group B action.

“We are negotiating with other teams going to Chan. There will be about four teams training in Tunisia during that period and we will definitely play a West African side to prepare for Ivory Coast,” Mannetti said.

In the squad are: Edward Maova (Civics FC), Charles Uirab (Unam FC), Loydt Kazapua (African Stars), Calvyn Spiegel (Chief Santos FC), Ferdinand Karongee (Tigers FC), Kennedy Eib (Chief Santos FC), Tjuana-Tja Tjinotjiua (African Stars FC), Hubert Mingeri (Life Fighters FC).

So is Charles Hambira (Tura Magic FC), Edmund Kambanda (Unam FC), Martin Emilio (Black Africa FC), Tiberius Lombard (Tura Magic FC), Vitapi Punyu Ngaruka (Black Africa FC), Riaan !Hanamub (Orlando Pirates FC), Gregory Auchumeb (Blue Waters FC), Immanuel Heita (Black Africa FC), Dynamo Fredericks (Black Africa FC), Oswaldo Xamseb (Tura Magic FC), Penda Mangudhi (Young Chiefs FC), Ronald Ketjijere (African Stars FC), Wangu Batista Gome (Civics FC), Petrus Shitembi (Tura Magic FC), Absalom Iimbondi (Tigers FC), Jackson Johannes (Young Chiefs FC).

They are joined by Himezeembi Hengombe (Young African FC), Muna Katupose (Unam FC), Roger Kumbee Katjiteo (Tigers FC), Junias Theophilus (Tura Magic FC), Panduleni Nenkundi (African Stars FC) Hendrick Somaeb (Blue Waters FC) and Kleophas Useb (Life Fighters).

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