No experiments - Mannetti
Brave Warriors coach Ricardo Mannetti has ruled out dramatic changes, as they prepare to face the Black Stars of Ghana at the Sam Nujoma Stadium on Saturday.
The much-anticipated Dr Hage Geingob Cup will take centre stage on Saturday, when the Brave Warriors clash with Ghana.
Warriors coach Ricardo Mannetti said he is taking the competition seriously and that there won't be experimentation with the team's formation.
“I value the cup and take it seriously. I will also not take our opponents lightly and therefore I have once again called up players who played a significant role in the Africa Nations Cup preparations like Petrus Shitembi, Larry Horaeb, Willy Stephanus and Muna Katupose, amongst others,” said Mannetti.
He added he has also called up Gregory Auchumeb and the likes of newbie Elmo Kambinda, who is being touted to be the next big thing for the Warriors.
“Kambinda has great height and is a great prospect to have in the strike force in the long run. I brought him in to prepare him for the future.”
As the match approaches, it has also come to light that Ghana will not send some of their best players to face Namibia.
Five players who were supposed to be released from Asante Kotoko FC, namely Felix Annan, Amos Frimpong, Abass Mohamed, Richard Senanu and Emmanuel Gyanfi, will not feature in the match, as they are preparing to compete in the CAF Confederations Cup.
Mannetti, however, shut down questions about whether this will affect the competitiveness of the match.
“Ghana has quality in abundance; there is really no difference in their premier league and first division. They export players directly to Europe, so I'm not convinced that they will send a weak or second-fiddle team for the match.”
He added the Warriors want to retain the cup they won against Zambia last year.
In addition, Mannetti also fielded questions about Shitembi and Sadney Uri-Khob currently being clubless.
“The team policy of not including players who are not active with clubs still stands. Both of these players are aware of this. But they had a grace period, because of issues around the league. They still have time from now until March (next year) to sign with clubs.
“There is no way that they will be clubless for long with the skill and talent they have. They know the expectations of the nation,” Mannetti said.
The tickets for the match cost N$30 and gates will open at 10:00. The curtain-raiser is between the women's under-20 and under-23 national teams and will start at 13:00, while the main match kicks off at 16:00.
The Namibian squad is as follows:
Ratanda Mbazuvara (African Stars), Lloyd Kazapua (Maccabi FC - SA), Abel Amenenge (Life Fighters), Larry Horaeb (Tura Magic), Vitapi Ngaruka, Emilio Martin, Donovan Kandjaa and Dynamo Fredericks (Black Africa), Kennedy Eib (Mighty Gunners), Charles Hambira (Tura Magic), Gregory Auchumeb (Blue Waters), Aprocious Petrus (Eleven Arrows), Willy Stephanus (AC Kajaani - Finland), Benyamin Nengavu (Buildcon FC - Zambia), Ronald Ketjijere (African Stars), Marcel Papama, (Unam), Petrus Shitembi (unattached), Absalom Iimbondi (Tigers), Lucky Heita (Black Africa) Muna Katupose (Tigers), Sadney Uri-Khob (unattached) and Elmo Kambinda (Mighty Gunners).
LIMBA MUPETAMI
Warriors coach Ricardo Mannetti said he is taking the competition seriously and that there won't be experimentation with the team's formation.
“I value the cup and take it seriously. I will also not take our opponents lightly and therefore I have once again called up players who played a significant role in the Africa Nations Cup preparations like Petrus Shitembi, Larry Horaeb, Willy Stephanus and Muna Katupose, amongst others,” said Mannetti.
He added he has also called up Gregory Auchumeb and the likes of newbie Elmo Kambinda, who is being touted to be the next big thing for the Warriors.
“Kambinda has great height and is a great prospect to have in the strike force in the long run. I brought him in to prepare him for the future.”
As the match approaches, it has also come to light that Ghana will not send some of their best players to face Namibia.
Five players who were supposed to be released from Asante Kotoko FC, namely Felix Annan, Amos Frimpong, Abass Mohamed, Richard Senanu and Emmanuel Gyanfi, will not feature in the match, as they are preparing to compete in the CAF Confederations Cup.
Mannetti, however, shut down questions about whether this will affect the competitiveness of the match.
“Ghana has quality in abundance; there is really no difference in their premier league and first division. They export players directly to Europe, so I'm not convinced that they will send a weak or second-fiddle team for the match.”
He added the Warriors want to retain the cup they won against Zambia last year.
In addition, Mannetti also fielded questions about Shitembi and Sadney Uri-Khob currently being clubless.
“The team policy of not including players who are not active with clubs still stands. Both of these players are aware of this. But they had a grace period, because of issues around the league. They still have time from now until March (next year) to sign with clubs.
“There is no way that they will be clubless for long with the skill and talent they have. They know the expectations of the nation,” Mannetti said.
The tickets for the match cost N$30 and gates will open at 10:00. The curtain-raiser is between the women's under-20 and under-23 national teams and will start at 13:00, while the main match kicks off at 16:00.
The Namibian squad is as follows:
Ratanda Mbazuvara (African Stars), Lloyd Kazapua (Maccabi FC - SA), Abel Amenenge (Life Fighters), Larry Horaeb (Tura Magic), Vitapi Ngaruka, Emilio Martin, Donovan Kandjaa and Dynamo Fredericks (Black Africa), Kennedy Eib (Mighty Gunners), Charles Hambira (Tura Magic), Gregory Auchumeb (Blue Waters), Aprocious Petrus (Eleven Arrows), Willy Stephanus (AC Kajaani - Finland), Benyamin Nengavu (Buildcon FC - Zambia), Ronald Ketjijere (African Stars), Marcel Papama, (Unam), Petrus Shitembi (unattached), Absalom Iimbondi (Tigers), Lucky Heita (Black Africa) Muna Katupose (Tigers), Sadney Uri-Khob (unattached) and Elmo Kambinda (Mighty Gunners).
LIMBA MUPETAMI
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