Warriors have no easy task

THE professional players in the Brave Warriors line-up facing Ethiopia in an African Nations Cup qualifier tomorrow need to stand up and be counted, as all hopes for the country to qualify for the continental showpiece will be on them.

The Namibians will be expected to win the match against Ethiopia at all costs to book an entry into the 2008 African Nations Cup finals in Ghana. Players such as midfielders Quinton Jacobs, Oliver Risser, Letu Shatimuene and forwards in Sidney Plaatjies and Meraai Swartbooi will be required to give an edge to the side which is dominated by the Windhoek-based players.Hartman Toromba from Black Leopards in defence and Efraim Tjihonge, also from the same side in goal will also form the backbone of the team and they need to show that they are worthy material for the side.Namibia will be hoping for the Democratic Republic of Congo to lose against Libya on the same day.DRC are leading the Group 10 log with 8 points, with Namibia in second spot with 7 points.Namibia has a relatively inexperienced side in the local-based players and the chances of winning will be determined by the commitment of the foreign-based internationals, who have been active for the past two months.The local players, who were called into camp just about a week and a half ago, were deprived of competitive football because of the domestic league which has not yet started.Despite that, coach Ben Bamfuchile and his two assistants, Ronnie Kanalelo and Brian Isaacs, expect a better performance from their foreign exports, a move that will ultimately make all Namibians proud if they secure a ticket to Ghana.The biggest responsibility will be on the midfield trio of Shatimuene, Risser, Jacobs and possibly Brian Brendell or Jamu Ngatjizeko, depending on who is picked on the day.Risser and Jacobs have no choice but to lead the midfield and create chances for their striking pair which will Plaatjies and Swartbooi and possibly Muna Katupose or Rudolf Bester, depending on who gets the nod.Jacobs has not played for the side since last year against Libya, but now will be presented with an opportunity to make his mark and create a permanent place in the side for himself.Risser played in the Cosafa Cup against Botswana and did not look very sharp, but his efforts can be aided by the lively Shatimuene who has great dribbling skills and s sense of direction in his passes.Plaatjies has not been a prolific scorer for the Warriors and this time, being one of the top professionals for Namibia in South Africa at Jomos Cosmos, he has no choice but to deliver in that department.Swartbooi has shown that he can strike well from the distance and also finds himself in the right places when on attack.The stocky former Blue Waters left-winger has picked up valuable experience at his Angolan-based side Premeiro de Agosto for some time now and his services will be dear for the country.In defence, Namibia can rely on the solid pair of Michael Pienaar of Ramblers and Mali Ngarizemo of African Stars, while Toromba and Blue Waters youngster Gottlieb Nakuta will also be responsible to keep it tight at the back.Franklin April in the left-back position has had consistent matches, but at times is let down by his pace against the opposing strikers, an area which the coaches should have worked on by now.Namibia did not play their warm-up match against Jomo Cosmos as planned on Wednesday night, because the players did not travel in the same plane, making it difficult for them to arrive in time for the encounter, an official at the Namibia Football Association (NFA) confirmed yesterday.Players such as midfielders Quinton Jacobs, Oliver Risser, Letu Shatimuene and forwards in Sidney Plaatjies and Meraai Swartbooi will be required to give an edge to the side which is dominated by the Windhoek-based players.Hartman Toromba from Black Leopards in defence and Efraim Tjihonge, also from the same side in goal will also form the backbone of the team and they need to show that they are worthy material for the side.Namibia will be hoping for the Democratic Republic of Congo to lose against Libya on the same day.DRC are leading the Group 10 log with 8 points, with Namibia in second spot with 7 points.Namibia has a relatively inexperienced side in the local-based players and the chances of winning will be determined by the commitment of the foreign-based internationals, who have been active for the past two months.The local players, who were called into camp just about a week and a half ago, were deprived of competitive football because of the domestic league which has not yet started.Despite that, coach Ben Bamfuchile and his two assistants, Ronnie Kanalelo and Brian Isaacs, expect a better performance from their foreign exports, a move that will ultimately make all Namibians proud if they secure a ticket to Ghana.The biggest responsibility will be on the midfield trio of Shatimuene, Risser, Jacobs and possibly Brian Brendell or Jamu Ngatjizeko, depending on who is picked on the day.Risser and Jacobs have no choice but to lead the midfield and create chances for their striking pair which will Plaatjies and Swartbooi and possibly Muna Katupose or Rudolf Bester, depending on who gets the nod.Jacobs has not played for the side since last year against Libya, but now will be presented with an opportunity to make his mark and create a permanent place in the side for himself.Risser played in the Cosafa Cup against Botswana and did not look very sharp, but his efforts can be aided by the lively Shatimuene who has great dribbling skills and s sense of direction in his passes.Plaatjies has not been a prolific scorer for the Warriors and this time, being one of the top professionals for Namibia in South Africa at Jomos Cosmos, he has no choice but to deliver in that department.Swartbooi has shown that he can strike well from the distance and also finds himself in the right places when on attack.The stocky former Blue Waters left-winger has picked up valuable experience at his Angolan-based side Premeiro de Agosto for some time now and his services will be dear for the country.In defence, Namibia can rely on the solid pair of Michael Pienaar of Ramblers and Mali Ngarizemo of African Stars, while Toromba and Blue Waters youngster Gottlieb Nakuta will also be responsible to keep it tight at the back.Franklin April in the left-back position has had consistent matches, but at times is let down by his pace against the opposing strikers, an area which the coaches should have worked on by now.Namibia did not play their warm-up match against Jomo Cosmos as planned on Wednesday night, because the players did not travel in the same plane, making it difficult for them to arrive in time for the encounter, an official at the Namibia Football Association (NFA) confirmed yesterday.