Tom delays naming squad

BRAVE Warriors coach Tom Saintfiet has delayed naming his final squad because several players are injured and others have not reported for camp yet.

The coach was due to name a final squad of 18 players today, ahead of their international friendly match against the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in Windhoek on Saturday. The squad will be announced tomorrow instead.The Brave Warriors camp has been hit by late withdrawals due to injury and the inexplicable unavailability of other players. They were called to camp last Sunday.The Risser brothers, Oliver and Wilko, have not been released by their foreign clubs and this prompted the Warriors technical staff to report the matter to Fifa for intervention.Yesterday, team manager Tim Isaacs said they had not heard anything from Fifa yet, but hoped the matter would be resolved and that the players would be here by tomorrow morning at the latest.Wayward former Tigers striker Letu Shatimuene, who plays in Angola, has not reported for camp and attempts by the team management to get hold of him proved futile.Moroka Swallows midfielder Sidney Plaatjies did also not report and will possibly be in camp today.Isaacs said the only player who reported late yesterday was defender Steven Goagab of Carara Kicks (SA), while Civics striker Eslin Kamuhanga is still in Germany with the under-17 national side. He is expected back today.At this point, there are 18 players in camp, the exact number required for the Fifa-sanctioned match, but there might be minor changes as other players still might make it to camp.TOUGH CHOICESAt the moment, Saintfiet sits with three goalkeepers, seven defenders, six midfielders and two strikers. He is likely to remove one goalkeeper to possibly accommodate Plaatjies or Shatimuene, who might also be a late inclusion.Among his goalkeepers, either Athiel Mbaha or Abisai Shiningayamwe has to make way, while Eleven Arrows’ young goalkeeper Virgil Vries will probably be kept.Saintfiet has to gamble with some of his midfielders by employing them in more attacking roles, with Ninja Karongee, Rudi Louw, Quinton Jacobs and Rudolf Bester able to do that.Oliver Risser is a more defensive midfielder, and his stability in midfield will be missed if he does not make it, but the return of Razundara Tjikuzu can give the coach the edge in terms of experience if he is picked alongside Jacobs and Louw. Henrico Botes and Heini Isaacs will possibly be the outward strikers at this stage, but Bester and Paulus Shipanga can also serve in those roles.If Shatimuene does not make it, Saintfiet has to employ Botes as his main hitman, with either Bester or Isaacs complementing him, while Shipanga and Plaatjies can be used on the wings.There are no headaches as far as the Namibian defence is concerned.The Namibian defence is quite experienced and the players at the back have collected over 60 caps among themselves. They will cover the defensive approach of the coach more appropriately this time around.corry@namibian.com.na