Zebras to test Brave Warriors in Cosafa Cup

THE Brave Warriors have the ability to go past Botswana in the Cosafa Castle Cup on Saturday, provided that they go into the match with an attacking mentality.

The Warriors have lost to Botswana on home soil twice in the same competition at the first hurdle, but now playing away in Gaborone, the team will have no choice but to attack on all cylinders. The Zebras have been tricky customers for the Brave Warriors in recent years and the last match between the two saw Botswana winning 1-0 in a friendly earlier this year.Before that, Namibia lost 2-1 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in the 2005 edition of the Cosafa Cup.Before that, the two teams drew 0-all in a friendly match played in Windhoek in 2004, while in 2003, Namibia was knocked out of the Cosafa Cup through a 1-0 defeat at home.In 2002 Namibia lost 2-1 in a friendly match played in Botswana, while in 2001, the Warriors were hammered 3-2 on home soil in an African nations Cup qualifier.This time, with Ronnie Kanalelo at the helm in the absence of head coach Ben Bamfuchile, the Warriors will hope to turn around the tables, never mind the home advantage of the Zebras.Kanalelo this week said they will attack all out and will not allow the Zebras to come at them.He said although it will be Botswana’s home match and the crowd will be intimidating, he thinks that his players are ready and have no fear.Kanalelo and assistant coach Brian Isaacs also successfully led the team to Malawi where they recorded a 2-1 win, but this time it will be a different situation.Namibia will be looking to their lanky striker Gerson Katjatenja to search for goals, while the other influential players will be captain Robert Nauseb for his experience, Rudolf Bester for his clever passes and unpredictability and Oliver Risser for his steadiness in midfield.Angolan-based duo Meraai Swartbooi and Letu Shatimuene will also be key to the side as they have been on a pre-season training with their side Premeiro de Agosto in that country.Nauseb has been criticised not for stamping down his authority as a senior player, but as a captain, he will have no choice but to carry the weight of the team in midfield.Risser and Nauseb have the responsibility to ensure that the strikers, which will possibly also include Patrick Jagger are fed with precise balls as they search for goals.The defence will be reasonably stable despite the absence of the Michael Pienaar who is still out recovering from injuries he obtained in a car accident.On the left flank, Jeremia Baisako and Franklin April will be considered in the starting line-up, while Hartman Toromba will surely go into the right-back position.Mali Ngarizemo will be the central defender, with Gottlieb Nakuta assisting him in that role too.Athiel Mbaha in goal will be the man who will be shouting instructions to his defenders and his presence in goal will be major to the side which mostly consist of young players.The winners between the two will meet either Angola or Lesotho on Sunday after the two will also play their first match on Saturday.Namibia’s match will be screened live on SuperSport 3 on DStv at 14h00, with the first between Angola and Lesotho set for 12h00.The Zebras have been tricky customers for the Brave Warriors in recent years and the last match between the two saw Botswana winning 1-0 in a friendly earlier this year.Before that, Namibia lost 2-1 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in the 2005 edition of the Cosafa Cup.Before that, the two teams drew 0-all in a friendly match played in Windhoek in 2004, while in 2003, Namibia was knocked out of the Cosafa Cup through a 1-0 defeat at home.In 2002 Namibia lost 2-1 in a friendly match played in Botswana, while in 2001, the Warriors were hammered 3-2 on home soil in an African nations Cup qualifier.This time, with Ronnie Kanalelo at the helm in the absence of head coach Ben Bamfuchile, the Warriors will hope to turn around the tables, never mind the home advantage of the Zebras.Kanalelo this week said they will attack all out and will not allow the Zebras to come at them.He said although it will be Botswana’s home match and the crowd will be intimidating, he thinks that his players are ready and have no fear.Kanalelo and assistant coach Brian Isaacs also successfully led the team to Malawi where they recorded a 2-1 win, but this time it will be a different situation.Namibia will be looking to their lanky striker Gerson Katjatenja to search for goals, while the other influential players will be captain Robert Nauseb for his experience, Rudolf Bester for his clever passes and unpredictability and Oliver Risser for his steadiness in midfield.Angolan-based duo Meraai Swartbooi and Letu Shatimuene will also be key to the side as they have been on a pre-season training with their side Premeiro de Agosto in that country.Nauseb has been criticised not for stamping down his authority as a senior player, but as a captain, he will have no choice but to carry the weight of the team in midfield.Risser and Nauseb have the responsibility to ensure that the strikers, which will possibly also include Patrick Jagger are fed with precise balls as they search for goals.The defence will be reasonably stable despite the absence of the Michael Pienaar who is still out recovering from injuries he obtained in a car accident.On the left flank, Jeremia Baisako and Franklin April will be considered in the starting line-up, while Hartman Toromba will surely go into the right-back position.Mali Ngarizemo will be the central defender, with Gottlieb Nakuta assisting him in that role too.Athiel Mbaha in goal will be the man who will be shouting instructions to his defenders and his presence in goal will be major to the side which mostly consist of young players.The winners between the two will meet either Angola or Lesotho on Sunday after the two will also play their first match on Saturday.Namibia’s match will be screened live on SuperSport 3 on DStv at 14h00, with the first between Angola and Lesotho set for 12h00.