THE Brave Gladiators are sufficiently prepared to deal with the absence of star forward Zenatha Coleman for the upcoming Cosafa women’s championship, head coach Brian Isaacs said on Monday.
Poster girl Coleman, US-based midfielder Annouscka Kordom and defender Veweziwa Kotjipati, who plays in Germany, were notable absentees from the largely untested 23-member squad which Isaacs called up to do battle at the annual regional competition, which runs from 12 to 22 September in Port Elizabeth, South Africa.
“The foreign-based players will not be available for the championships due to certain circumstances. It [Cosafa] is not on the Fifa international calendar, so their clubs don’t have to release them. And for a player like Zenatha, she recently signed for Valencia in Spain, where they are preparing for the start of the league and are keen to see what they bought,” Isaacs told reporters.
Having also overlooked several other senior players, Isaacs is confident that his young side can hold their own against seasoned rivals in South Africa.
In Zimbabwe last year, Namibia got off to a flying start after beating Botswana 4-0 in their opener, but then lost 2-1 to Lesotho, followed by a 3-1 loss against South Africa to finish bottom of their pool.
“We don’t have a broad base from which to choose from. We’ve brought in a lot of under-20 players who formed part of the training squad.
“It’s good to give them this exposure because these are the players for tomorrow. Some played already in the senior team’s Afcon qualifiers,” he added.
Newly-installed captain Emma Naris is among the handful of experienced heads in the side and said she was relishing her new role, and that they were itching to get down to business.
This year, Namibia tackle Zimbabwe, Swaziland and East Africa guest nation Uganda in Group C.
“Firstly, it is an honour for me to be team captain of the Brave Gladiators. It is a really big responsibility. The team is ready for Cosafa, and we are ready to do much better than last year. We are up for the challenge,” she said confidently.
With no league action to supplement his efforts, Isaacs arranged friendlies with under-19 and u17 boys teams “in order to get that necessary game time for our players because that’s what hindered us in last year’s Cosafa Cup”.
“I believe we have prepared well. When it comes to the conditioning and technical preparations, we are in a position to do better than last year at the championship,” Isaacs said of his charges’ readiness.
The Brave Gladiators have a respectable track record in the competition, and the same can be expected when they feature in South Africa.
“I always want to win. That is why I do my utmost best to prepare the team well for every game. But with the limitations we have, we are realistic. We are going there to compete. We want to show that we have quality in Namibia, and are able to do well in such a tournament,” said the only person to have coached the Brave Warriors and the Brave Gladiators.
“With an ordinary team, you can still go and compete against the best in Africa, and get a result if you plan well, play well and have your players playing to the best of their ability on that specific day,” he explained.
“I am of the opinion that they can do much better than last year and reach the knock-out round, and from there, anything can happen.
Namibia had three previous appearances at the Cosafa Women’s Championship when they turned out in 2006, 2008 and 2017, and have largely excelled in the regional competition.
In their first showing in 2006, they claimed an excellent 2-2 draw with Zambia, and then thumped Swaziland 6-0 in the pool stages, enough to see them in the semi-finals as runners-up in their group.
They overcame Zambia with a 5-4 penalty shoot-out after a 1-1 draw, but lost the final to South Africa when they went down 3-1.
They reached the semi-finals again two years later, but this time were ousted at that stage by South Africa, ironically by the same scoreline.
In the squad are: Goalkeepers – Mellissa Matheus, Lydia Eixas; Defenders – Anna Shaende, Ndapewa Katuta, Kamunikire Tjituka, Emma Naris (captain), Sharon Pieters, Lydiana Nanamus, Lovisa Mulunga; Midfielders – Twelikondjele Amukoto, Elmarie Fredericks, Millicent Hikuam, Beverly Uueziua, Memory Ngonda, Juliana Blou, Shanice Daries, Kylie van Wyk, Ivone Kooper and Thomalina Adams. On standby are: Anna-Marie Shikusho (striker), Fiola Vliete (goalkeeper) and Veronica van Wyk (defender).
