Where are our football anthems?
The NFA patron, President Hage Geingob, has called on the nation to come up with songs to make the Cosafa Cup a memorable football festival.
He urged fans to fill the stadiums, saying they should not forget that hosting the regional showpiece will be a test of Namibia’s ability to host big tournaments.
“Let us go to the stadiums in our numbers and also not sit as if we are at a funeral, but emulate the rest of the world by singing and shouting and creating our own songs and melodies in the stands and make the COSAFA Cup a memorable football festival,” he said.
As a sport fan himself Geingob encouraged all football-loving men and women, girls and boys, to “Harambee” and fill the stadiums to capacity.
“Let’s put on a show for the region and the whole world by supporting the Warriors and welcoming our brothers and sisters from SADC to Namibia.”
The president said being the host nation gives Namibia an opportunity to display its capacity to host a major sporting event.
“Through this tournament, many people who have not been to Namibia and do not know much about our country will be able to see our infrastructure in the form of stadiums, practice facilities and accommodation facilities among others.
“If we put on an impressive display, which I am sure we will, then it will bode well for future bids to host larger tournaments such as AFCON,” he said. He further said that hosting the Cosafa Castle Cup will allow young Namibian footballers to see a high standard of football, which will stand them in good stead with regard to their development as potential football stars of the future.
“We also have an opportunity, through this tournament, to take our footballing standard to the next level and usher in a new era of success for the Brave Warriors,” Geingob said.
Brave Warriors
The president expressed satisfaction with the national team’s standard of play.
“If I look at the standard of the team today and compare it to several years ago, I must admit that the Brave Warriors have improved a lot and the general standard of play, from fitness to pace, ball-possession, passing and dribbling, is very high.
“These days, when you watch Namibian teams playing on television and you are told that they are local teams, you think that you are watching teams from outside the country and that is how high our standard of play is today,” he said.
Unfortunately, the standard of play is not matched by support and enthusiasm from the fans, he said.
“It is difficult for us to expect our footballers to be motivated if they play in front of an empty grandstand week in and week out,” he said, adding that football needs the entire nation’s support.
He encouraged the formation of fan clubs to encourage supporters to attend football matches.
The football patron said Namibia is a brave nation that succeeded against all odds to win its national freedom and he is certain that the same fighting spirit will guide the national team as they defend their title on home soil. “We stand a very good chance to retain the Cup but the team has to be disciplined and focused on the task at hand. Furthermore, given the fact that we are the holders, having won the tournament last time around, I believe that we now know what it takes to win a tournament.”
He wished all the participating countries luck.
“May you enjoy the famed Namibian warmth and hospitality which will be on display throughout the tournament. We wish all our fellow Africans from our sub-region an enjoyable stay in the Land of the Brave.”
Six matches have so far been played and two more were scheduled for yesterday. Fifteen goals have been scored and the biggest victory so far was Swaziland beating Seychelles 4-0.
Swaziland is leading the log of group A with four points, ahead of Madagascar with the same points, and Seychelles is rooted at the bottom with no point yet.
Swaziland soared to the top of Group A after an emphatic 4-0 victory over Seychelles at the Sam Nujoma Stadium on Monday, while Zimbabwe and Madagascar held each other to a goalless draw.
Fixtures
Wednesday 15 June 2016
Zimbabwe v Seychelles Sam Nujoma Stadium 17:45
Swaziland v Madagascar Independence Stadium 17:45
Thursday 16 June 2016
Malawi v Lesotho Sam Nujoma Stadium 17:45
Angola v Mauritius Independence Stadium 17:45
KAINO NGHITONGO
He urged fans to fill the stadiums, saying they should not forget that hosting the regional showpiece will be a test of Namibia’s ability to host big tournaments.
“Let us go to the stadiums in our numbers and also not sit as if we are at a funeral, but emulate the rest of the world by singing and shouting and creating our own songs and melodies in the stands and make the COSAFA Cup a memorable football festival,” he said.
As a sport fan himself Geingob encouraged all football-loving men and women, girls and boys, to “Harambee” and fill the stadiums to capacity.
“Let’s put on a show for the region and the whole world by supporting the Warriors and welcoming our brothers and sisters from SADC to Namibia.”
The president said being the host nation gives Namibia an opportunity to display its capacity to host a major sporting event.
“Through this tournament, many people who have not been to Namibia and do not know much about our country will be able to see our infrastructure in the form of stadiums, practice facilities and accommodation facilities among others.
“If we put on an impressive display, which I am sure we will, then it will bode well for future bids to host larger tournaments such as AFCON,” he said. He further said that hosting the Cosafa Castle Cup will allow young Namibian footballers to see a high standard of football, which will stand them in good stead with regard to their development as potential football stars of the future.
“We also have an opportunity, through this tournament, to take our footballing standard to the next level and usher in a new era of success for the Brave Warriors,” Geingob said.
Brave Warriors
The president expressed satisfaction with the national team’s standard of play.
“If I look at the standard of the team today and compare it to several years ago, I must admit that the Brave Warriors have improved a lot and the general standard of play, from fitness to pace, ball-possession, passing and dribbling, is very high.
“These days, when you watch Namibian teams playing on television and you are told that they are local teams, you think that you are watching teams from outside the country and that is how high our standard of play is today,” he said.
Unfortunately, the standard of play is not matched by support and enthusiasm from the fans, he said.
“It is difficult for us to expect our footballers to be motivated if they play in front of an empty grandstand week in and week out,” he said, adding that football needs the entire nation’s support.
He encouraged the formation of fan clubs to encourage supporters to attend football matches.
The football patron said Namibia is a brave nation that succeeded against all odds to win its national freedom and he is certain that the same fighting spirit will guide the national team as they defend their title on home soil. “We stand a very good chance to retain the Cup but the team has to be disciplined and focused on the task at hand. Furthermore, given the fact that we are the holders, having won the tournament last time around, I believe that we now know what it takes to win a tournament.”
He wished all the participating countries luck.
“May you enjoy the famed Namibian warmth and hospitality which will be on display throughout the tournament. We wish all our fellow Africans from our sub-region an enjoyable stay in the Land of the Brave.”
Six matches have so far been played and two more were scheduled for yesterday. Fifteen goals have been scored and the biggest victory so far was Swaziland beating Seychelles 4-0.
Swaziland is leading the log of group A with four points, ahead of Madagascar with the same points, and Seychelles is rooted at the bottom with no point yet.
Swaziland soared to the top of Group A after an emphatic 4-0 victory over Seychelles at the Sam Nujoma Stadium on Monday, while Zimbabwe and Madagascar held each other to a goalless draw.
Fixtures
Wednesday 15 June 2016
Zimbabwe v Seychelles Sam Nujoma Stadium 17:45
Swaziland v Madagascar Independence Stadium 17:45
Thursday 16 June 2016
Malawi v Lesotho Sam Nujoma Stadium 17:45
Angola v Mauritius Independence Stadium 17:45
KAINO NGHITONGO
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