Windhoek
Namibia’s Young Warriors flew out to Swaziland on Wednesday morning ahead of their 2017 CAF U20 Africa Cup of Nations preliminary round qualifier match on Saturday in Mbabane.
Ahead of their departure, the team camped for about three weeks and was subject to some real competition when they competed at the Four Nations Under-17 Tournament held at Walvis Bay over the weekend. They managed to beat the Baby Warriors 6-1 and also 2-1, while they lost to Westphalia 2-0 and against Ghana 3-1.
The Young Warriors will start their campaign in the qualifiers with a first round clash against Swaziland – the first leg on Saturday, April 2 and the second leg to be played in Windhoek on April 23.
The winner of this fixture will then take on South Africa in the second round in May/June, after which a third and final round awaits the winner for a place in Zambia next year. Gerhard Guther is the head coach, deputized by James Britz.
Apart from the CAF assignment, the Young Warriors will form part of the African Sports Council Regional Five Youth Games in Angola for players born in 1999, while players born in 1997 will travel to Moruleng, South Africa to represent Namibia at the Cosafa Under-20 Championships.
The 20-member squad reads as follows: Donovan Gainub, Vipua Tjimune, Kennedy Eib, Baloyi Tsandib, Johannes Kwedhi, Giovanni Nauseb, Katiti Hakuria, Pandeni Kandjabanga, Romeo Kasume, Jürgen van der Byl, Boni Paulino, Leonard Tuhafeni, Hiha Katjivena, Petrus Kamati, Ruhwal Mclobo, Anthony Kham, Bertoni du Toit, Alli Klokoski, George Hummel and Venovineja Tjikundi.