THREE Namibian under-23 football players have clinched three-year contracts with South African premiership side Jomo Cosmos.
The three players are defender Gotlieb Nakuta, midfielder Wycliff Kambonde and striker Saul Coetzee. Nakuta and Kambonde both played for Namibia Premier League (NPL) side Blue Waters, while Coetzee turned out for NFA Cup champions Orlando Pirates.The business manager of the three players, Collin April, confirmed the deals of the three players, saying that they were all spotted during their match against South Africa’s ‘Amagluglug’ side during the 2008 Olympic qualifier played in Potchefstroom about two weeks ago.April said the three players impressed coach and club owner Jomo Sono and were included at the team’s trials, after which they were given the green light to be part of the team for the next three years.April said another player, Lazarus Kaimbi, who also played in the same competition, is currently on trial with Cosmos.Kaimbi, who turns out for local side Ramblers, was voted as the Best Youngest Player for last season by the NFA.Nakuta, Kambonde and Coetzee are now joining Brave Warriors goalkeeper Zico Paulus and forward Sidney Plaatjies, who have previously joined the club for similar periods.Paulus, who is currently the first choice for the Warriors, played for Civics before joining Cosmos, while Plaatjies is a product of Blue Waters.April, who had been instrumental in taking several other players to South Africa in the past, said his aim was to get at least 30 Namibians playing professional football in that country.”My main aim is to get 30 Namibian players in that country as professionals and I think it is achievable,” he said.South Africa has increasingly become the favourite destination for Namibian footballers, with at least 15 now doing professional duties for various clubs there.The Namibian players who have served South African premiership teams the longest are Ricardo Mannetti, George Hummel, Robert Nauseb and Mohammed Ouseb.The rest of the players started moving to that league about a season ago and there is a huge interest in Namibian players in that country, according to April.Quinton Jacobs, who plays for Ajax Cape Town, is set to move to Norway after attending trials with a first-division team in that country.Nakuta and Kambonde both played for Namibia Premier League (NPL) side Blue Waters, while Coetzee turned out for NFA Cup champions Orlando Pirates.The business manager of the three players, Collin April, confirmed the deals of the three players, saying that they were all spotted during their match against South Africa’s ‘Amagluglug’ side during the 2008 Olympic qualifier played in Potchefstroom about two weeks ago.April said the three players impressed coach and club owner Jomo Sono and were included at the team’s trials, after which they were given the green light to be part of the team for the next three years.April said another player, Lazarus Kaimbi, who also played in the same competition, is currently on trial with Cosmos.Kaimbi, who turns out for local side Ramblers, was voted as the Best Youngest Player for last season by the NFA.Nakuta, Kambonde and Coetzee are now joining Brave Warriors goalkeeper Zico Paulus and forward Sidney Plaatjies, who have previously joined the club for similar periods.Paulus, who is currently the first choice for the Warriors, played for Civics before joining Cosmos, while Plaatjies is a product of Blue Waters.April, who had been instrumental in taking several other players to South Africa in the past, said his aim was to get at least 30 Namibians playing professional football in that country.”My main aim is to get 30 Namibian players in that country as professionals and I think it is achievable,” he said.South Africa has increasingly become the favourite destination for Namibian footballers, with at least 15 now doing professional duties for various clubs there.The Namibian players who have served South African premiership teams the longest are Ricardo Mannetti, George Hummel, Robert Nauseb and Mohammed Ouseb.The rest of the players started moving to that league about a season ago and there is a huge interest in Namibian players in that country, according to April.Quinton Jacobs, who plays for Ajax Cape Town, is set to move to Norway after attending trials with a first-division team in that country.
