DUTCH coach Arie Schans will lead the Brave Warriors to the 2008 African Nations Cup next year, the Namibia Football Association (NFA) announced yesterday.
The 56-year-old Schans will replace former head coach Ben Bamfuchile, who is unlikely to make the trip because of ill health. Schans will join the Warriors at their training camp, which starts on December 10 in Germany.Bamfuchile, who returned to his native Zambia, last week told The Namibian that he had resigned as the head coach of the Warriors, but denied the following day that he had spoken to the newspaper.Yesterday, NFA Vice President Korbinian Amutenya, acting Secretary General Barry Rukoro and spokesman Beau Kauta all confirmed that Schans would take over as coach.At the same time, however, they denied that Bamfuchile had been relieved of his duties.Bamfuchile told The Namibian last week that he was leaving the national coaching job because of alleged ill treatment by the association, which had failed to provide him with transport for over a year.The three NFA officials yesterday maintained that Bamfuchile was still included in the association’s plans.They said that he was still regarded as the head coach, but they were not sure if he would be available for the Nations Cup.”As a responsible association, we have to put measures in place that can ensure Namibia’s successful participation at the Nations Cup.We therefore decided to rope in Schans to assist Bamfuchile with the coaching job.But in the event that Bamfuchile is not in a position to take the team to Ghana, Schans will be the head coach,” said Rukoro.Insiders told The Namibian that Bamfuchile had been relieved of his duties as coach because of ill health and there was no possibility that he would be part of the team to Ghana.Schans will join the Warriors at their training camp, which starts on December 10 in Germany.Bamfuchile, who returned to his native Zambia, last week told The Namibian that he had resigned as the head coach of the Warriors, but denied the following day that he had spoken to the newspaper.Yesterday, NFA Vice President Korbinian Amutenya, acting Secretary General Barry Rukoro and spokesman Beau Kauta all confirmed that Schans would take over as coach.At the same time, however, they denied that Bamfuchile had been relieved of his duties.Bamfuchile told The Namibian last week that he was leaving the national coaching job because of alleged ill treatment by the association, which had failed to provide him with transport for over a year.The three NFA officials yesterday maintained that Bamfuchile was still included in the association’s plans. They said that he was still regarded as the head coach, but they were not sure if he would be available for the Nations Cup.”As a responsible association, we have to put measures in place that can ensure Namibia’s successful participation at the Nations Cup.We therefore decided to rope in Schans to assist Bamfuchile with the coaching job.But in the event that Bamfuchile is not in a position to take the team to Ghana, Schans will be the head coach,” said Rukoro.Insiders told The Namibian that Bamfuchile had been relieved of his duties as coach because of ill health and there was no possibility that he would be part of the team to Ghana.
Stay informed with The Namibian – your source for credible journalism. Get in-depth reporting and opinions for
only N$85 a month. Invest in journalism, invest in democracy –
Subscribe Now!