Warriors to count on home-ground edge

NAMIBIA’S Brave Warriors will have to count on their home advantage if they want to upset Zambia in an international friendly match at the Sam Nujoma Stadium on Saturday.

Kick-off is at 15h00. Namibia have never beaten Zambia before and the records between the two sides are two draws and one win for the visitors.Namibia first drew 1-all against Zambia in the Cosafa Castle Cup in 1998, while in 2000, Zambia came out tops with a 2-1 win in the African Nations Cup qualifier, before they played to another 0-all draw in another Nations Cup qualifier in 2001.The match, despite being a friendly international, is an important one as the two nations prepare for their African Nations Cup ties due in June.Namibia meet Libya in a home tie on June 2, while Zambia take on Congo at the same weekend.With Zambia having won one match against the Warriors, it will be up to Namibian coach Ben Bamfuchile and his charges to level matters this time around.Bamfuchile, a Zambian national himself, will also try to prove a point against his opponent Patrick Phiri, a task that will require him to field the best possible squad on the day.The Namibian team has been in camp for over two weeks now and the home-ground advantage should give them the edge.Four foreign-based players have been called up for the friendly match.They are Jomo Cosmos goalkeeper Abisa Shiningayamwe, Black Leopards goalie Ephraim Tjihonge, Moroka Swallows defender George Hummel and Black Leopards defender Hartman Toromba.Bamfuchile told Namibia Sport that the preparations were going well for the Zambia match and only midfielder Rudolph Bester had a serious injury concern.He injured his ankle in a league match two weeks ago and according to the team doctor, was a doubtful starter for the match against Zambia.Bamfuchile added that he wasn’t sure who would be in his starting line-up and that they were still working on combinations.He said that Zambia would field a strong side and would provide stiff opposition.”I heard that they have included five South African-based professionals in their team.Zambia have traditionally been one of the strong teams in the Southern African region and I expect a tough test from them.We will try our best to win the match, but it is more important for me that we play well as a team.I want to use this match to gauge ourselves for Libya,” he said.Four more foreign-based players will join the squad for the Libya match.They are Meraai Swartbooi of Petro de Luanda, Oliver Risser of Bonner SV, Robert Nauseb of Santos and Collin Benjamin of Hamburg SV.The four are all midfielders and should make competition for places in the centre interesting.However, there is no place for Quinton Jacobs in the squad.Bamfuchile admitted that he was disappointed with Jacobs’ attitude after he was substituted against Libya in Tripoli.Jacobs was substituted by Victor Helu and apparently complained afterwards about being substituted by a local player.”I only heard that he had complained later about being substituted, but it makes me sick that I have to hear it from somewhere else.If he has a problem he must come to me to discuss it,” the coach said.”I still want Quinton in the team, but I want to treat all my players equally and not segregate them between locals and foreigners – if we do that we will destroy our whole system.I want the professionals to respect the locals, and vice versa,” he said.Namibia have never beaten Zambia before and the records between the two sides are two draws and one win for the visitors.Namibia first drew 1-all against Zambia in the Cosafa Castle Cup in 1998, while in 2000, Zambia came out tops with a 2-1 win in the African Nations Cup qualifier, before they played to another 0-all draw in another Nations Cup qualifier in 2001.The match, despite being a friendly international, is an important one as the two nations prepare for their African Nations Cup ties due in June.Namibia meet Libya in a home tie on June 2, while Zambia take on Congo at the same weekend.With Zambia having won one match against the Warriors, it will be up to Namibian coach Ben Bamfuchile and his charges to level matters this time around.Bamfuchile, a Zambian national himself, will also try to prove a point against his opponent Patrick Phiri, a task that will require him to field the best possible squad on the day.The Namibian team has been in camp for over two weeks now and the home-ground advantage should give them the edge.Four foreign-based players have been called up for the friendly match.They are Jomo Cosmos goalkeeper Abisa Shiningayamwe, Black Leopards goalie Ephraim Tjihonge, Moroka Swallows defender George Hummel and Black Leopards defender Hartman Toromba.Bamfuchile told Namibia Sport that the preparations were going well for the Zambia match and only midfielder Rudolph Bester had a serious injury concern.He injured his ankle in a league match two weeks ago and according to the team doctor, was a doubtful starter for the match against Zambia.Bamfuchile added that he wasn’t sure who would be in his starting line-up and that they were still working on combinations.He said that Zambia would field a strong side and would provide stiff opposition.”I heard that they have included five South African-based professionals in their team.Zambia have traditionally been one of the strong teams in the Southern African region and I expect a tough test from them.We will try our best to win the match, but it is more important for me that we play well as a team.I want to use this match to gauge ourselves for Libya,” he said.Four more foreign-based players will join the squad for the Libya match.They are Meraai Swartbooi of Petro de Luanda, Oliver Risser of Bonner SV, Robert Nauseb of Santos and Collin Benjamin of Hamburg SV.The four are all midfielders and should make competition for places in the centre interesting.However, there is no place for Quinton Jacobs in the squad.Bamfuchile admitted that he was disappointed with Jacobs’ attitude after he was substituted against Libya in Tripoli.Jacobs was substituted by Victor Helu and apparently complained afterwards about being substituted by a local player.”I only heard that he had complained later about being substituted, but it makes me sick that I have to hear it from somewhere else.If he has a problem he must come to me to discuss it,” the coach said.”I still want Quinton in the team, but I want to treat all my players equally and not segregate them between locals and foreigners – if we do that we will destroy our whole system.I want the professionals to respect the locals, and vice versa,” he said.