Under-20s face Botswana in friendlies

NAMIBIA’S U/20 national football team will take on their Botswana counterparts this weekend as part of preparations for the Africa Youth Championships. The squad of 20 players leave for Gaborone today to play two friendly matches against Botswana, tomorrow and on Sunday.

Both countries will get a chance to flex some muscle ahead of the Africa Youth Champions qualifiers at the end of July.Namibia will take on the reigning world youth champions Ghana on July 25 in Accra with the return leg in Windhoek on August 7, and according to Jakes Amaning, the team manager, the lads are raring to go.’It has been a long spell without football for these players and they are looking forward to take on Botswana and just rub off the rustiness as they prepare for the Ghana clash,’ said the Ghanaian-born Amaning.’The two coaches are fairly new to the team and the interactions between the coaches and the players have been great and the Botswana test will even take the relationship further,’ he said of Ricardo Mannetti and Bernard Kaanjuka, who will be observed and advised by the NFA technical Director Klaus Staerk. The youth team consists of various premiership players such as Orlando Pirates striker Sidney Urikhob, African Stars’ speedster Ikuaterua Tjozongoro, as well as the Black Africa attacking duo of Willy Stephanus and Roger Kumbee Katjiteo.The full squad is as follows: Oswaldo Xamseb, Sakeus Willbard, Sidney Urikhob, Willy Stephanus, Denzyl Haoseb, Robinson Iyambo, Roger Kumbee Katjiteo, Joseph Nairenge, Larry Horaeb, Benson Shilongo, Ikuaterua Tjozongoro, Steven Sabatha, Nevile Tjiueza, Alfeus Handura, Papi Kavezembi, Collin Ndjai, Absalom Imbodi, Edward Akwaake.