THE Brave Warriors embarked on a new chapter on Monday when they travelled to the Comoros Islands for the first leg of their African Nations Championship (Chan) first round match on Friday.
With Ricardo Mannetti having stepped down as national coach following Namibia’s participation at the Afcon finals in Egypt, Bobby Samaria has been appointed as the interim coach, with Woody Jacobs as his assistant.
At their final training session in Windhoek on Sunday, Samaria said they were determined to get off to a good start.
“We only had seven training sessions, which is not enough, but we should not use that as an excuse. These things happen in football, so we will just have to go there with the belief and give it our all.
“I know that Comoros participated in a tournament in Mauritius for those islands around there, so I think their preparations have been better. But football games are not only won on preparations, it’s also about what you give on the day and I believe these boys will give their all, because they are showing the necessary hunger and willingness to work for me,” he added.
Most of the squad has remained the same as the one that competed at the Cosafa Cup last month, but Samaria has brought in three new players in Black Africa attacking midfielder Wendell Rudath, Mighty Gunners striker Elmo Kambinda and Young Brazilians attacking midfielder Revered Matroos.
“The new guys have shown the willingness and the required mental strength, and with respect to the old guys there’s not much adaptation, because they’ve been training and their conditioning is up there,” he said.
Samaria said he had built up a good understanding with his assistant, Jacobs.
“Woody is also a Caf A licence holder and he’s been coaching for quite some time, so when I was assigned the task I did not need to look any further because I think its only fair in the pecking order that I turned to him. He compliments me very well tactically, and he has a very good insight and understanding of the game, so I think it’s a combination that can work and he also has that drive to win that I have and that is the most important.”
Regarding his coaching philosophy and playing style, Samaria said he will aim to play attractive football.
“It’s unfortunate that Namibia has not identified a playing style as yet and it boils down to the philosophy of the coach. I’d say my playing style is based on ball possession as well as explosiveness, and of course, we want to play attractive football.
He however added that he would bring in some new elements.
“As Africans it comes naturally to go forward, but we need to teach these boys how to defend. I think Ricardo did well so I will not alter too much defensively, but what I will alter is going forward.”
One area which was lacking in Egypt was the finishing of the strikers and Samaria said they had paid special attention to that.
“We have been working on that. In Egypt we created chances, but the players lacked the necessary composure and the moment you lack composure, you are not clinical.”
Samaria was not sure how long he will remain in the post, but good results will obviously count in his favour.
“I think I was appointed as the interim coach specifically assigned for the Chan project, so I’ll remain the coach for as long as the team is in the Chan qualifiers. But the Afcon qualifiers will also start soon so the longer we are in Chan, it will overlap and then it’s for the normalisation committee to make their call,” he said.
The first round return leg against the Comoros Islands will take place at the Sam Nujoma Stadium on 2 August.
The Namibian squad is as follows:
Goalkeepers:
Ratanda Mbazuvara and Charles Uirab.
Defenders:
Ivan Kamberipa, Vitapi Ngaruka, Emilio Martin, Larry Horaeb, Aprocious Petrus.
Midfielders:
Marcel Papama, Immanuel Heita, Dynamo Fredericks, Gustav Isaak, Llewellyn Stanley, Absalom Iimbondi, Wendell Rudath, Gregory Auchumeb, Aubrey Amseb and Revered Matroos.
Strikers:
