YANGZHOU, CHINA – Namibia’s U/17 Khomas regional team produced a spirited performance to come from behind to beat their South Korean opponents 2-1 in a thrilling clash at the ongoing Yangzhou China Grand Canal Cities Men’s Elite Youth Football Tournament.
The two sides locked horns yesterday at the Yangzhou Sports Park in China, where Namibia was forced to rely on her resilience and superior skills to overcome a stubborn and equally-determined Korean side.
The Khomas team started the match on a promising note, displaying a determination that hinted at their potential. However, their Korean opponents managed to quickly turn the tide of the match when they struck first in the seventh minute.
Motivated by the early goal, the Koreans started throwing everything upfront in search of a second goal, but the Namibians refused to fold under pressure as they contained the Korean onslaught with great demeanour.
Namibia’s resolve finally paid off when they equalised in the 22nd minute through the individual brilliance of Vitario ‘Namab’ Brunzel, who pounced on the Koreans to level matters at the vivacious Yangzhou Sports Park.
Keetmanshoop-based Brunzel, who currently plays for DTS, showcased his speed and skill when he darted through the Korean defence before sending a powerful shot into the back of the net.
Buoyed by the equaliser, the Khomas side began to confidently dictate matters in most facets of the match as they continued to march forward in search of an elusive winning goal.
Individual brilliance shone through, particularly from players like CBS Football Academy’s Fabiano ‘Ghost’ Awaseb, who commanded the midfield with exceptional poise and vision.
His partnership with AC Football Academy’s Joshua Moller, who played with composure and tactical awareness reminiscent of young Arsenal star Declan Rice, ensured that the Namibians maintained control over the game’s tempo.
Defensively, slender Vitjitua ‘Maro’ Nunuhe from Kasaona Football Academy emerged as a commanding presence on the right flank. His tenacious defending kept the Koreans at bay, as they struggled to mount any significant attacks down his side, effectively neutralising their offensive threats.
Nunuhe’s ability to disrupt the opponent’s rhythm was crucial in maintaining Khomas’ foothold in the match.
It was clear that the Namibians were in charge of proceedings, and it was not long before the second goal came through the lightning-fast Kaizen Football Academy’s Robinho van Wyk.
After brilliant build-up play, Van Wyk found himself in a one-on-one situation with the goalkeeper, and with remarkable composure, slotted the ball home to put Khomas within touching distance of victory.
The momentum had fully shifted, and the Khomas team was now in control, bolstered by their lead and the vibrant atmosphere created by their fans. The Koreans tried putting up a fight, but the scoreline was beyond their reach.
After the final whistle, Khomas coach Risto Shikomba praised his team’s performance, highlighting their ability to respond to adversity.
“The opponents caught us off-guard, which reduced our tempo initially, but we managed to regroup and come back into the match,” he said.
However, he acknowledged the need for improvement, particularly in defending set-pieces. “We need to work on that, moving forward,” he added.
Brunzel echoed his coach’s sentiments, expressing pride in the team’s resilience. “We started the match on the backfoot, but bounced back to level and ultimately win the match. I am happy with our performance, and I will strive to push for us to score even more goals in the future,” he stated confidently.
Namibia’s next match will be against China’s Dongtai on Friday. Only one team will advance to the final from Group A, which consists of Namibia’s Khomas regional team, China’s Dongtai City team, and the Korean side – which is now out of the group after losing both their matches at the ongoing tourney.
Group B consists of Yangzhou City, Jiangsu Province and Vietnam, all vying for their chance in the finals.
-lmupetami@nepc.com.na