Young Warriors unhappy with payment

LIMBA MUPETAMI

WINDHOEK

The Young Warriors of Namibia are not happy with the money they were paid after taking part in the Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations in Mauritania.

The young squad of players competed in Mauritania, under head coach James Britz, drawing their first match in Group A one-all against Central African Republic, losing their second and third matches against Tunisia (2-0) and Burkina Faso (1-0) and thus exiting the tournament.

The players were paid N$5 000 per game and in total walked away with N$15 000 each. One player said they were not informed about this payment prior to the competition.

“We were just told while we were preparing to play about how much we would earn. The least they could do is just to discuss it with us,” the disgruntled player said.

The players each received N$3 000 per game for the U-20 Cosafa competition in South Africa, where they took N$45 000 each after reaching the final, but losing 1-0 to Mozambique.

A source close to these dealings said neither the players nor the technical team was informed of the amount they would be paid.

He said everything was done wrong from the start.

“Normally the coach and technical team negotiate these things. There was nothing like that. Everyone only found out once they were out of the country what they will be receiving.

“Some of the players still haven’t been paid as they do not have bank accounts,” the source said.

WRONG INFORMATION

Team manager Dave Goagoses said his duties only extend to a certain level. He explained that three of the four unpaid players did not have bank accounts, and the fourth had given the wrong account details.

“It is not true that we didn’t pay the players. We came to open bank accounts for them when we returned,” he said.

Asked if there was any contractual agreement prior to the players travelling to the Games, Goagoseb said that would be best answered by NFA secretary-general Franco Cosmos.

Cosmos was in a meeting when called yesterday, and afterwards did not respond to the questions submitted to him.

SCOUTS IN CONTACT

Coach James Britz said on Thursday’s ‘Sport Wrap’ show that some players were noticed by scouts at the tournament.

“They called the Namibia Football Association, the players’ respective coaches and their parents as well. It was a massive tournament. There is so much to look back on and be impressed with, even if the scores didn’t match that,” he said.

Britz added that the team did well in spite of facing opponents who play for Schalke in the German Bundesliga, in England and all over Europe.

“The rest of our player competed in tournaments, which didn’t really help us. We didn’t have matches to play so it was difficult to progress,” he said.

Furthermore, he said that he had spoken to Bobby Samaria last week with a view to drafting some junior players into the national senior team.

“He will announce that, as he is the head, but we really had a good conversation about some of the players he would like to call up,” he added.

ASPIRATIONS

Britz also said that he would like to coach the national team one day, as that is everyone’s ambition, just like it is every player’s dream to play for the national team, but that he is happy with where he finds himself at the moment.