WINDHOEK – In-form Brave Warriors attacking midfielder Deon Hotto has called on the public to come out in large number on Saturday and fill up the Sam Nujoma Stadium when the Brave Warriors take on the Chipolopolos of Zambia for their 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Group K qualifier.
Hotto, who is in hot form at the moment and recently moved from Bloemfontein Celtic to Bidvest Wits in the South African Premiership, revealed that he will be ready to deliver a thrilling performance on Saturday.
“It’s not only our desire to qualify for the 2019 AFCON but that of the whole nation and we will be ready to fight it on the pitch against Zambia. We have played them so many times in recent years and they are very stubborn. I feel good about myself and I hope that the Hotto that had a great start to the season will show up on Saturday,” said a confident Hotto.
The former African Stars winger said that public support will be key in their quest to win their second game of Group K, after losing the first one away to Guinea Bissau last year.
“We need all Namibians to fill up the stadium and push us to victory on Saturday. We wear the national colours with pride and when you have so many people behind you, that extra gear just appears and you surprise even yourself, so we really need our people to come and be with us on Saturday as the 12th man,” he added.
Coach Ricardo Mannetti has his full complement of 25 players in camp after the last arrival of Egypt-based Benson Shilongo on Tuesday.
It will be the third meeting between the two neighbours this year, having drawn 1-1 at the African Nations Championships in Morocco, and Zambia edging out Namibia 4-3 at this year’s Cosafa Cup quarterfinal following a goalless stalemate in South Africa.
Match-day tickets will cost N$50 at all Computicket outlets at Shoprite and Checkers stores countrywide as well as at Football House in Katutura.
The Brave Warriors squad in camp for Zambia: Maximillian Mbaeva (Golden Arrows, RSA), Virgil Vries (Kaizer Chiefs, RSA), Ratanda Mbazuvara (African Stars), Donovan Kanjaa (Young African), Larry Horaeb (Unattached), Tiberius Lombard (Lusaka Dynamos, Zambia), Charles Hambira (Baroka, RSA) Denzil Haoseb (Highlands Park, RSA), Vitapi Ngaruka (Black Africa), Riaan Hananub (Jomo Cosmos, RSA) Ananias Gebhardt (Baroka, RSA), Dynamo Fredericks (Black Africa), Petrus Shitembi (Unattached), Ronald Ketjijere (African Stars), Wangu Batista Gome (Cape Umoya, RSA), Immanuel Heita (Black Africa), Absalom Iimbondi (Tigers), Deon Hotto (Bidvest Wits), Willy Stephanus (AC Kanjaani, Finland), Marcel Papama (Unam), Hendrik Somaeb (Unattached), Muna Katupose (Unam), Sadney Urikhob (PSMS Medan, Indonesia), Benson Shilongo (Smouha, Egypt) and Itamunua Keimuine
(Tura Magic).