Ouseb renews deal with Lyn Oslo

BRAVE Warriors defensive strongman Mohammed ‘Slice’ Ouseb has extended his contract with Lyn Oslo for a year, even though the Norwegian-based is going through a financial crisis.

Ouseb told The Namibian Sport yesterday that he decided to resign for the club recently as no other offers were coming their way. Lyn Oslo, which came tenth in the Norwegian First Division, are having financial problems.”I knew before I renewed my contract with the club that it would be a difficult period ahead and I am ready for the challenge.Things will not be as good as the last season when it comes to payment and all that, but I am determined to get back to my best form,” he said.Ouseb underwent an operation on his damaged left knee cartilage in November 2002, and only started playing actively in June last year.He said he has recovered well from the injury, but feel that he still had to get back to his peak form.The defender, who plays as a midfielder at Lyn Oslo, is due to return this week to his club to start pre-season training before the league resumes in April.With 66 national caps, Ouseb is one of the most capped players in the country.On reports that he was planning to join his former South-African-based club Kaizer Chiefs, before he renewed his contract, Ouseb said: “I was just expressing my feelings on where I would have liked to play next if I don’t get back to Oslo,” he said.Ouseb played at Chiefs, which plays in the South African Premier League (PSL) for almost four seasons.The former Chief Santos rear-guard was however not optimistic about his future plans after the end of the Oslo contract.”I can honestly not tell you where I will be moving or which club or in which country I will prefer playing after that.At this stage, I just want to work on my fitness level and to help my club do well,” he said.Before joining Lyn Oslo, both English Premier League side Arsenal, and Italian-based Serie A team, Udinese, expressed interest in the Namibian.The Arsenal deal did not succeed as the Home Office in England rejected it due to Namibia’s ranking which was below the top 70 nations.Namibia was ranked 103 in March 2002, and have since rapidly climbed down the ladder, now finding itself at 144 in the world.For Udinese, which were hunting for him later in September in 2002, Ouseb was ruled-out as clubs in that league were only allowed to have one foreigner each.Ouseb did not want to comment on his wedding plans he promised to this year with long-time girlfriend, Namene Enkali, who also lives with him in Norway.Lyn Oslo, which came tenth in the Norwegian First Division, are having financial problems. “I knew before I renewed my contract with the club that it would be a difficult period ahead and I am ready for the challenge. Things will not be as good as the last season when it comes to payment and all that, but I am determined to get back to my best form,” he said. Ouseb underwent an operation on his damaged left knee cartilage in November 2002, and only started playing actively in June last year. He said he has recovered well from the injury, but feel that he still had to get back to his peak form. The defender, who plays as a midfielder at Lyn Oslo, is due to return this week to his club to start pre-season training before the league resumes in April. With 66 national caps, Ouseb is one of the most capped players in the country. On reports that he was planning to join his former South-African-based club Kaizer Chiefs, before he renewed his contract, Ouseb said: “I was just expressing my feelings on where I would have liked to play next if I don’t get back to Oslo,” he said. Ouseb played at Chiefs, which plays in the South African Premier League (PSL) for almost four seasons. The former Chief Santos rear-guard was however not optimistic about his future plans after the end of the Oslo contract. “I can honestly not tell you where I will be moving or which club or in which country I will prefer playing after that. At this stage, I just want to work on my fitness level and to help my club do well,” he said. Before joining Lyn Oslo, both English Premier League side Arsenal, and Italian-based Serie A team, Udinese, expressed interest in the Namibian. The Arsenal deal did not succeed as the Home Office in England rejected it due to Namibia’s ranking which was below the top 70 nations. Namibia was ranked 103 in March 2002, and have since rapidly climbed down the ladder, now finding itself at 144 in the world. For Udinese, which were hunting for him later in September in 2002, Ouseb was ruled-out as clubs in that league were only allowed to have one foreigner each. Ouseb did not want to comment on his wedding plans he promised to this year with long-time girlfriend, Namene Enkali, who also lives with him in Norway.