Warriors upbeat for Agosto

THE Brave Warriors will go into their warm-up match against Premeiro De Agosto in an upbeat mood, despite a midweek pay dispute which threatened to disrupt the mood in the camp.

The match against the Angolan champions will be played at the Independence Stadium at 19h00 tonight. The Warriors seemed to be on track for tonight’s match although it is a friendly, but their focus will be on their African Nations Cup qualifier against the Democratic Republic of Congo on June 16.At yesterday’s practice, the team was taken through some defensive and attacking play methods by coach Ben Bamfuchile, who earlier in the week said he wanted to concentrate on their endurance.Former Black Africa goalkeeper Ephraim Tjihonge trained with the team yesterday in a bid to provide resistance in goal against the strikers.Eleven Arrows midfielder Rudolph Bester also resumed training and did not struggle during the sessions after returning from an ankle injury that ruled him out in both the Zambian friendly and the Libya match.Absent at yesterday’s sessions was Namibian goal hero against Libya Collin Benjamin, who is reported to have a death in the family.Also absent was Tara Katupose, who was busy with exams, but the rest of the players reported for training in a bid to fight for places ahead of their next crucial encounter against the DRC.At yesterday’s session, the players responded relatively well to several maneuvres that they were put through by Bamfuchile, except for Meraai Swartbooi who sustained an injury to his left toe and Jamu Ngatjizeko, who was rested because of a minor ankle injury.Bamfuchile said he will be resting captain Robert Nauseb for tonight’s game, but will field several other players who did not play in last weekend’s game.Players such as goalkeeper Athiel Mbaha, defenders Jeremia Baisako and Mali Ngarizemo, midfielders Brian Brendell, Patrick Jagger and Eddy Masweu are likely to be given game-time tonight.Bamfuchile earlier said the Angolan team came at the right time and he was looking forward to some stiff competition from them.He said it would also be an opportunity for him to try out the other players and see if they can implement what they have been doing at training.According to the Angolan assistant coach, Miller Gomes, the Warriors would be good competition for them and as they are currently on a pre-season training camp in the country.The Angolans, who have been touring Namibia over the past few years, will not have three of their key players who are currently with the Angolan national side.But despite that, the Angolan team has in the past put up great performances against some of the local premiership clubs and have walked away with respectable victories.At this stage, the warm-up match against the Angolan side is the only one on the cards before Namibia plays against DRC next weekend.The Warriors seemed to be on track for tonight’s match although it is a friendly, but their focus will be on their African Nations Cup qualifier against the Democratic Republic of Congo on June 16.At yesterday’s practice, the team was taken through some defensive and attacking play methods by coach Ben Bamfuchile, who earlier in the week said he wanted to concentrate on their endurance.Former Black Africa goalkeeper Ephraim Tjihonge trained with the team yesterday in a bid to provide resistance in goal against the strikers.Eleven Arrows midfielder Rudolph Bester also resumed training and did not struggle during the sessions after returning from an ankle injury that ruled him out in both the Zambian friendly and the Libya match.Absent at yesterday’s sessions was Namibian goal hero against Libya Collin Benjamin, who is reported to have a death in the family.Also absent was Tara Katupose, who was busy with exams, but the rest of the players reported for training in a bid to fight for places ahead of their next crucial encounter against the DRC.At yesterday’s session, the players responded relatively well to several maneuvres that they were put through by Bamfuchile, except for Meraai Swartbooi who sustained an injury to his left toe and Jamu Ngatjizeko, who was rested because of a minor ankle injury.Bamfuchile said he will be resting captain Robert Nauseb for tonight’s game, but will field several other players who did not play in last weekend’s game.Players such as goalkeeper Athiel Mbaha, defenders Jeremia Baisako and Mali Ngarizemo, midfielders Brian Brendell, Patrick Jagger and Eddy Masweu are likely to be given game-time tonight.Bamfuchile earlier said the Angolan team came at the right time and he was looking forward to some stiff competition from them.He said it would also be an opportunity for him to try out the other players and see if they can implement what they have been doing at training.According to the Angolan assistant coach, Miller Gomes, the Warriors would be good competition for them and as they are currently on a pre-season training camp in the country.The Angolans, who have been touring Namibia over the past few years, will not have three of their key players who are currently with the Angolan national side.But despite that, the Angolan team has in the past put up great performances against some of the local premiership clubs and have walked away with respectable victories.At this stage, the warm-up match against the Angolan side is the only one on the cards before Namibia plays against DRC next weekend.