Maqonda Ndlovu
National men’s football team fitness coach, Garren Smith says there are no injuries in the Brave Warriors squad which arrived in Durban on Sunday in preparation for the 2023 Cosafa Cup which kicks off today.
Speaking to the Namibia Football Association media officers on Monday during the team’s light training session at Chatsworth Stadium, Smith said the coaches were happy with the team’s fitness levels.
“A few players are suffering from muscle stiffness, but come Wednesday (today) they should be fine. The team has reduced their training load as they approach match day,” he said. He added that the players are ready to fight and leave their hearts on the field of play. Also speaking from Durban, Devin Somseb one of the new players said he is learning a lot, especially from the senior guys.
“The new players are putting in a shift and are listening to the coaches and senior players.
The Council of Southern African Football Associations (Cosafa) Cup is one of the major tournaments in Southern Africa. I hope to play and help the team win,” Somseb said.
The Brave Warriors will open their account against hosts South Africa later on today as they look to replicate their 2022 performance at the tournament where they ended up as runners-up to Zambia.
The then newly appointed coach Collin Benjamin has assembled a youthful squad whose performance at the tournament was hailed by many.
The performance last year came at the back of the absence of football for more than four years due to internal squabbles within the NFA. This time around, the Namibia Premier Football League (NPFL) successfully concluded the league, giving Benjamin and his technical team a group of fit players.
After playing South Africa today, Namibia will clash with Eswatini on Saturday, before finishing the group stages against neighbours Botswana on Tuesday next week.
The Brave Warriors squad in Durban is as follows:
Goalkeepers: Edward Maova, Ndisiro Kamaijanda and Jonas Mateus.
Defenders: Brandon Neibeb, Ivan Kamberipa, Kennedy Amutenya, Ananias Gebhardt, Steven Damaseb, Denzil Haoseb and Aprocius Petrus.
Midfielders: Reverend Matroos, Devin Somseb, Ngero Kaanjuka, Paulus Amutenya, Edmar Kamatuka, Dynamo Fredericks, Joslin Kamatuka, Absalom Iimbondi, Marcel Papama and Wendell Rudath
Forwards: Junior Petrus, Bethuel Muzeu and Elmo Kambindu.
– jrnmarko@gmail.com