By Special Reporter
Windhoek
The Namibia Football Association (NFA) President John Muinjo strongly believes that the Namibian team is good enough to qualify for the second round of the Africa Nations Cup finals, which get underway in Ghana this weekend.
Speaking at an official dinner last night to bid far well to the Brave Warriors at the Windhoek Country Club, Muinjo said as the team heads for Accra, Ghana it is no easy task as Namibia faces to of the pre-tournament favorites namely Ghana and Morocco in the first round.
“I will be short of being truthful if I said here today that I am not hoping for the best and that we would win some our first matches and qualify for the second round of the competition”.
The President noted that the whole of Namibia will stand still with abated breaths as all Namibians across all divides, will unite in one desire of the first ever victory of their country at the continent flagship competition.
Muinjo also paid tribute to the late Brave Warriors coach Ben Bamfuchile and said since the Bamfuchile is no longer with the team, it provides extra reason why the Warriors should to well in Ghana.
The national team at the event were also presented with their national colors and the squad includes most of the players who have been involved in friendly matches in preparation for AFCON 2008, over the past few months, with the only notable surprise being the inclusion of midfielder Wycliff Kambonde.
Kambonde, who plays for Jomo Cosmos in South Africa, has not been part of the Brave Warriors squad before, although he did represent Namibia U23 against South Africa in October 2003. Another newcomer to the squad is Kambonde's Jomo Cosmos teammate Lazarus Kaimbi who wins one of the striking berths. Kaimbi was in fine form at the Cosafa Cup U20 competition in South Africa in December 2007, where he played a major role in Namibia's run to the semifinals, scoring seven goals in five matches.
Former captain Robert Nauseb is the only notable absentee after being ruled out due to a recurrent knee injury. Nauseb joined the team ahead of last weekend’s friendly against Egypt in Aswan, but didn’t pass a fitness test and was ruled out by Namibia’s technical staff. Namibia could miss the experienced Nauseb, who was the only remaining member of Namibia’s 1998 African Cup of Nations squad.
Nauseb’s absence is a further blow to the team, which already has to do without two top injured strikers. Former captain Henrico Botes was ruled out in December after undergoing a knee operation, while Danish-based Heini Isaacs has also not recuperated from a knee injury.
The unlucky players who were dropped after appearing in recent friendly matches are midfielders Tugela Tuyeni and strikers Patrick Jagger, Eddy Musweu and Sheya Andimba.
The squad includes several foreign-based players, most of whom play in the South African PSL. Namibia will rely heavily on the experienced Quinton Jacobs of Bryne FC and Collin Benjamin of Hamburg SV, who are the most experienced players in the squad with 31 and 29 caps respectively. Namibia plays its final warm up friendly match against Senegal in Dakar on Saturday, January 12.
The final squad of 23 players is as follows:
Goalkeepers: Abisai Shiningayamwe (Jomo Cosmos), Athiel Mbaha (Orlando Pirates), Ephraim Tjihonge (Black Leopards).
Defenders: Michael Pienaar (Ramblers), Franklin April (Civics), Gottlieb Nakuta (Blue Waters), Richard Gariseb (Bidwest Wits), Hartman Toromba (Black Leopards), Jeremia Baisako (Ramblers), Maleagi ngarizemo (FC Cape Town).
Midfielders: Quinton Jacobs (Bryne FC), Brian Brendell (Civics), Letu Shatimuene (Primeiro de Agosto), Jamu Ngatjizeko (Civics), Oliver Risser (Bonner SC), Sydney Plaatjies (Jomo Cosmos), Wycliff Kambonde (Jomo Cosmos).
Strikers: Collin Benjamin (Hamburg SV), Muna Katupose (Oshakati City), Levis Swartbooi (Primeiro de Agosto), Rudolf Bester (Eleven Arrows), Pinias Jacob (Ramblers), Lazarus Kaimbi (Jomo Cosmos).
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