Warriors to meet Chipolopolo

NAMIBIA’S Brave Warriors will play Zambia’s Chipolopolo as preparation for their upcoming African Cup of Nations qualifying matches against Libya and the DR Congo next month.

Namibian coach Ben Bamfuchile told Namibia Sport that Zambia had agreed in principle to play the friendly, but that the date and venue still had to be ironed out. “The domestic soccer league will be completed on May 19 with the MTC NFA Cup final, and we hope to play the match against Zambia the following weekend.Zambia have agreed in principle to the match, but they would like to play at home, while we also would like to play at home, so these issues still have to be sorted out,” he said.Bamfuchile, who formerly coached Zambia, said they would provide a good test for the Brave Warriors.”We can learn a few things from them.They are quite serious about their soccer and have an impressive record in the African Cup of Nations.We can benefit a lot from their experience,” he said.Bamfuchile said he would try and maintain the same squad that he had built up over the past few months, although Heini Isaacs, Rudi Louw and Richard Gariseb will all miss the friendly due to injury.The local-based players will be called up to a training camp from Monday, May 14, while the foreign-based players would join the team later.Bamfuchile, however, said that he still had to finalise his squad, especially with regard to the foreign-based players, following in the wake of the Sydney Plaatjies drama.Plaatjies, who plays professionally for South African club Jomo Cosmos, publicly refused to play for the Brave Warriors again after he remained on the bench for their match against Libya in Tripoli on March 25.Bamfuchile said the foreign-based players in general had to improve their attitudes and that the team came first.He also referred to other incidents during the Libya game where some of the foreign-based players appeared to be insulted after being substituted by local based players.”These incidents have put me in a difficult position and I am a bit sceptical about inviting them.The best players in the world get substituted, so why should our players challenge that.But the team comes first and I came here to build a team.As long as some players look down on others, it will remain a problem,” he said.Meanwhile, Namibia’s chances of qualifying for Ghana 2008 took a further knock when the DR Congo beat Ethiopia 2-0 on April 29 to stretch their lead at the top of Group 10 to three points.They lead the log on seven points, followed by Libya on four and Ethiopia and Namibia on three points each.Bamfuchile, however, maintained that Namibia still had a chance of qualifying for Ghana.”If we beat Libya and the DRC at home we will have a good chance of qualifying.The DRC is one of the most experienced teams in Africa, but they are beatable.”We went in as the underdogs when we played them away in Kinshasa, but I was very surprised with the fight that our players put up before they lost 3-2.If we play like that we stand a good chance of beating them, but let’s first take it one game at a time,” he said.namibiasport.com.na”The domestic soccer league will be completed on May 19 with the MTC NFA Cup final, and we hope to play the match against Zambia the following weekend.Zambia have agreed in principle to the match, but they would like to play at home, while we also would like to play at home, so these issues still have to be sorted out,” he said.Bamfuchile, who formerly coached Zambia, said they would provide a good test for the Brave Warriors.”We can learn a few things from them.They are quite serious about their soccer and have an impressive record in the African Cup of Nations.We can benefit a lot from their experience,” he said.Bamfuchile said he would try and maintain the same squad that he had built up over the past few months, although Heini Isaacs, Rudi Louw and Richard Gariseb will all miss the friendly due to injury.The local-based players will be called up to a training camp from Monday, May 14, while the foreign-based players would join the team later.Bamfuchile, however, said that he still had to finalise his squad, especially with regard to the foreign-based players, following in the wake of the Sydney Plaatjies drama.Plaatjies, who plays professionally for South African club Jomo Cosmos, publicly refused to play for the Brave Warriors again after he remained on the bench for their match against Libya in Tripoli on March 25.Bamfuchile said the foreign-based players in general had to improve their attitudes and that the team came first.He also referred to other incidents during the Libya game where some of the foreign-based players appeared to be insulted after being substituted by local based players.”These incidents have put me in a difficult position and I am a bit sceptical about inviting them.The best players in the world get substituted, so why should our players challenge that.But the team comes first and I came here to build a team.As long as some players look down on others, it will remain a problem,” he said.Meanwhile, Namibia’s chances of qualifying for Ghana 2008 took a further knock when the DR Congo beat Ethiopia 2-0 on April 29 to stretch their lead at the top of Group 10 to three points.They lead the log on seven points, followed by Libya on four and Ethiopia and Namibia on three points each.Bamfuchile, however, maintained that Namibia still had a chance of qualifying for Ghana.”If we beat Libya and the DRC at home we will have a good chance of qualifying.The DRC is one of the most experienced teams in Africa, but they are beatable.”We went in as the underdogs when we played them away in Kinshasa, but I was very surprised with the fight that our players put up before they lost 3-2.If we play like that we stand a good chance of beating them, but let’s first take it one game at a time,” he said.namibiasport.com.na