FORMER Brave Warriors stalwart Mohammed Ouseb has called for strong home support at the Independence Stadium for Namibia’s World Cup Qualifier against Kenya on Saturday.
Ouseb said it is ‘very crucial’ that the nation rallies behind the team as this will help raise their game. He believes that the Brave Warriors have shown enough improvement over the past few months to warrant more support at their home matches.Losing 1-0 away to Nigeria on Sunday is proof that the team is on the rise in continental football, said Ouseb.However, unlike in Ouseb’s era, recent Brave Warriors matches have been poorly attended, largely down to the team’s inconsistent showing.’The support will be very crucial that’s why we need people to pack the stadium. We’ll give extra oomph to the squad,’ Ouseb told The Namibian yesterday.’Remember this team is not yet where we want them to be, so let us give them that necessary support whatever the outcome.’Capped 76 times by Namibia, Ouseb formed a key component of the fabled Brave Warriors side that qualified for the 1998 Africa Cup of Nations and in so doing secured the country’s first appearance at a major international football tournament. Ouseb said while he understands that the team played on the back foot in Nigeria, he expects the opposite approach against the well-drilled Kenyan team on Saturday. He warned that the Harambee Stars are not given enough credit for their much improved football and could be tricky opponents.He said the Warriors need to draw courage from their performance against the Super Eagles to see them past the East Africans. ‘It’s our home game and we must go at them from the start and apply the saying ‘the best way of defending is to attack’,’ Ouseb said. ‘By the way, people must not underestimate Kenya. Their football has improved big time and they’ve got some good players but I think our result [against Nigeria] might have also let them take us seriously.’So they’ll be very cautious and play safe at the back and on the counter-attack. But I’m optimistic that we’ll collect maximum points.’
