…who go down 1-0 in plucky effort
NAIROBI – Namibia’s failed bid for the 2014 Fifa Africa World Cup qualifiers ended in agony after the understrength Brave Warriors failed to negotiate their way past the resolute Harambee Stars at the modern Kasarani Stadium in the Kenyan capital Nairobi yesterday.
The match started at a frantic pace as the crowd in the half-packed Kasarani Stadium in central Nairobi were treated to a football fiesta never seen before in this neck of the woods with two of the finest midfielders on the African continent, in the shape of Petrus ‘Dancing Shoes’ Shitembi (Namibia) and Kenyan skipper Victor Wanyama, taking turns at will to showcase their football virtuosity. The Warriors were not to be intimidated by the vocal home crowd and took the contest to the their hosts from the minute go – claiming a couple of corners in succession, but failing to maximize their advantage. With five minutes gone on the clock – the Harambee Stars took a shock lead when the clearly nervy Warriors shot-stopper Ephraim Tjihonge made an unexplained and unforced error by conceding a corner kick from a harmless looking clearance that was destined for a goal kick. From the resultant set piece, the unmarked Dawid Owino volleyed home from close range leaving the flatfooted Namibian rearguard in sixes and sevens (1-0).
The visitors immediately regrouped and almost found the equaliser when Jerome the Crocodile got to the end of Awilo Stephanus’ tantalizing cross from the right flank, but his goal-bound header skimmed the frame and bounced back to safety.
Bulky Kenyan striker Dennis Ochiong proved a real thorn in the flesh of the Namibian defence with his consistently strong runs, but the centre back pair of Dudes Mwedihanga and Chris Katjiukua stood firm and thwarted all sorts of dangers thrown at them.
At the other end, Stephanus executed a tame shot with the goalmouth at his mercy much to the chagrin of the small contingent of Namibian supporters who gathered at the eastern stand of the giant stadium. The hosts would have been two goals ahead on the stroke of halftime when French-based Ochiong out-jumped the static Warriors defence, but Tjihonge redeemed himself from his earlier howler that ultimately led to the opening goal. The error-prone Namibian last line of defence effortlessly dived into his left corner and palmed the ball out for a corner kick, as the whistle went for the changeover.
Both teams continued with the same vigour and enthusiasm at the restart, but play was mostly confined to the middle of the park with Duncan Ochieng barely tested as the Namibian striking pair of Jacobs and Shitembi were left in isolation, while the pair also made things difficult for themselves by playing too far away from each other.
Coach Mannetti unleashed African Stars attacking midfielder Deon Hotto in the place of rusty skipper Heini Isaacks, but the move failed to yield any positive results as the visitors struggled to penetrate through the solid Kenyan rearguard. Jacob ballooned the ball over the crossbar from an inviting position and Shitembi missed a sitter when he failed to connect with a loose ball in front of goal with the Kenyan goalkeeper well at sea.
In what could be interpreted as the last throw of the dice Mannetti hauled off Louis for Black Africa’s lanky striker Kumbee Katjiteo, while Shitembi also gave way to Riaan Cloete, but to very little effect as the hosts held out for a narrow victory that left Namibia with the wooden spoon in the dead rubber Group F. Otherwise it was an end-to-end affair with the Namibians finishing the stronger of the two teams. Reigning African champions Nigeria emerged victorious from the group after edging out Malawi in their decisive group qualifier in Calabar, Nigeria on Saturday.
Brave Warriors starting line-up: Ephraim Tjihonge, Larry Horaeb, Dudes Mwedihanga, Chris Katjiukua Freedom Puriza, Pineas Jacob, Denzil Haoseb, Petrus Shitembi, Awilo Stephanus, Jerome Louis and Heini Isaacks (capt).
Carlos Kambaekwa