Warriors upbeat ahead of Cameroon encounters

THE Brave Warriors are in a posi- tive frame of mind and aiming to pull off an upset or two ahead of their Afcon qualifying matches against Cameroon next week.

They take on the ‘Indomitable Lions’ in two matches in Yaoundé and Johannesburg on 24 and 28 March, and with only three teams contesting their Group C, after Kenya’s disqualification by Fifa, they have a good chance of finish- ing in the top two to qualify for the 2023 Afcon finals, which will be held in the Ivory Coast in January next year.

Cameroon currently lead the group with three points, followed by Namibia and Burundi on one point each, after they drew their encounter 1-1 in Johannesburg in June last year.

Those dropped points at ‘home’ against Burundi have made their task more difficult, but at yester- day’s training session, national coach Collin Benjamin said he was happy with the positive mentality growing among the squad.

“We only have three teams in our group and two will go through, so we want to grab that opportunity. These are going to be difficult games against Cameroon but we are calling this ‘Mission stealing points from Cameroon’, so that’s our motto and mantra going into these games. We’ve put in the work, we’ve got a good team, we’ve got our mentality right for the game and I think we stand a really good chance,” he said.

Benjamin and his technical team have been working with Namibia’s local-based players till now, although Botswana based Marcell Papama and Kennedy Amutenya have also joined the training squad in Windhoek. Benjamin said he was impressed by the commitment and mentality

of the local-based players.
“There were a few hiccups at first, but the language of football is universal and after a day or two, they started blending together. I’m very happy with their commitment and I think we are in a good space at the moment,” he said.

“We do not have any injuries and everyone has been pulling through – it’s really lovely to see and I think it’s something we can build on. I’m particularly impressed with their professionalism and the mentality that they are bringing,” he said.

The squad will continue train- ing till the weekend, with players to be released to their clubs for tomorrow’s Debmarine Namibia Premiership matches, before the final squad flies out to Johannes- burg on Sunday, where they will be joined by Namibia’s foreign-based professionals.

“The local guys will still play league matches tomorrow, but we will leave for Johannesburg on Sun- day when we will meet up with the rest of the group. We will have three days in Jo’burg to gel as a team, so I think when we leave for Cameroon on Wednesday, all the work should have been done and we should be prepared,” Benjamin said.

Cameroon, who have a Fifa world ranking of 33 and fourth in Africa, compared to Namibia’s 113 and 25th in Africa, will start the encoun- ters as heavy favourites, a fact that Benjamin underlined.

“It’s something we cannot deny, they are the favourites and we are giving them that tag. They beat Bra- zil at the World Cup, so they have a very good team, and they are very physical and athletic. But we have been working on that and I think the

Namibian players are bringing the right attitude and mentality to show what they are capable of,” he said.

“I think we have got the best team that Namibia can offer at this mo- ment, so we as the technical team are really looking forward to these matches,” he said.

One of the players who will join the squad in Johannesburg is team captain and star striker Peter Sha- lulile, who has been in great form for Mamelodi Sundowns.

Benjamin said his presence will lift the team.

“Peter has been in great form and it’s well deserved because he works very hard – he’s a work horse, he’s the captain of the team and I think he has also gained some respect on the African continent,” he said.

“He’s one piece of the puzzle that also motivates the rest of the players, so now it’s for us to come together as a team. I think we are in good shape and feeling really posi- tive about these matches,” he said.

The NFA on Wednesday released the final squad of 25 players that will take on Cameroon:

• Goalkeepers – Loydt Kazapua, Edward Maova, Kamaijanda Ndisiro;

• Defenders – Ryan Nyambe, Ivan Kamberipa, Kennedy Amutenya, Charles Hambira, Riaan Hanamub, Annanias Gebhardt, Denzil Haoseb, Brandon Neibeb;

•Midfielders – Dynamo Fredericks, Devin Somseb, Ngero Katua, Marcel Papama, Prins Tjiueza, Edmar Kama- tuka, Absalom Iimbondi;

• Forwards – Joslin Kamatuka, Deon Hotto, Wendell Rudath, Petrus Junior, Peter Shalulile, Betheul Muzeu and Elmo Kambindu.THE Brave Warriors are in a posi- tive frame of mind and aiming to pull off an upset or two ahead of their Afcon qualifying matches against Cameroon next week.

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