Warriors seek Fifa help

THE Brave Warriors technical staff have asked Fifa to help them acquire two foreign-based players after the respective clubs refused to release them.

Brave Warriors team manager Tim Isaacs said Namibian international Oliver Risser and his brother Wilko Risser could not be released by their clubs late last week for an international friendly in Windhoek this weekend.He said he has now written to Fifa and should know by today if the clubs will agree to release the players in time for the match against the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on Saturday.’We have asked Fifa to help us solve this matter. The Fifa directives are clear that players should be released by their clubs for Fifa- sanctioned international matches. In this case, the two players are supposed to represent their country, but we have a problem with the two clubs who have refused to free them for national duty,’ he said.Wilko turns out for the Sportverein Eintracht Trier in the Regional-Liga (fourth division) in Germany, while Oliver plays for Norwegian second-division outfit Manglerud Star.Oliver, despite being used as a midfielder for the Warriors, is used in a defensive position at his club, while Wilko is a striker.KAIMBI, PIENAAR OUTJomo Cosmos forward Lazarus ‘Tommy’ Kaimbi will not be considered for the match after he picked up a groin injury in his last match for the season in South Africa.The towering Carara Kicks (first division) and former Ramblers defender Michael Pienaar was also ruled out due to a toe injury.Pienaar got the injury during training and will miss the encounter after he was called back to the fold for the first time during current coach Tom Saintfiet’s reign.Despite the withdrawal of the two, Isaacs confirmed that there won’t be any changes as the coach wants to have only 18 players in the camp by tomorrow.’We had a squad of 25 at first and it will not be necessary to replace the two as the coach is looking at only having 18 players in the end,’ he said.The Brave Warriors will go into the match after coming from three consecutive draws against Botswana, Lebanon and Angola.Playing at their favourite Independence Stadium will be a bonus and will surely be required to post a win.TEST FOR PLAYERS The match will also put to test the capabilities of Namibia’s foreign legion, as they have not been seen in action regularly on home turf.The return of Henrico Botes in the striking position is a huge boost for the misfiring Warriors.Botes is a workhorse and his never-say-die spirit is needed in the side that has adopted a defensive pattern and relies on counter-attacks, which yielded only one goal in their last three matches.Other players who have to stand up and be counted include goalkeepers Athiel Mbaha (Maritzburg United) and Abisai Shaningayamwe (Jomo Comos), that is if they are going to be used ahead of Virgil Vries of Eleven Arrows.The South African-based pair were chosen above Black Africa’s Arnold Subeb and Max Mbaeva of African Stars, who have done well for their teams this season.George Hummel (Jomo Cosmos), Richard Gariseb (Bivest Wits) and Steve Goagab (Jomo Cosmos) who all play in South Africa, should guard the defence with authority.Sidney Plaatjies of Moroka Swallows in South Africa and Paulus Shipanga of Bay United (also in SA) must deliver consistent performances to guarantee future selection too.Razundara Tjikuzu, who came in from Turkey (Istanbul Byuksehir Belediyespor), has a chance to stake a claim in the side after missing out on the 2008 Nations Cup in Ghana.Letu Shatimuene, who plays for Clube Desportivo Primeiro de Agosto in Angola, was also recalled after an earlier outburst with Saintfiet. The talented former Tigers player will be a great asset in future and should prove his worth on the field instead.It will be an opportunity for the foreign-based players to lift their game and boost Saintfiet’s faith in them, while the locals should also consolidate their presence on the day in view of playing regularly in future. corry@namibian.com.na