Namibia gets behind Brave Warriors

The fourth MTC Knockout Project will attempt to raise at least N$5 million in one month for the Brave Warriors to give the team a fighting chance at the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) next year.

This can be done through embracing “principles of collaboration and partnership”, said MTC spokesperson Tim Ekandjo.

MTC will contribute N$2 million towards the Brave Warriors’ preparations for the continental football spectacle in Ivory Coast.

The Brave Warriors showed great perseverance to overcome adversity and reach a second Afcon edition in five years, he said.

“They’ve played all their home games away from home. The easiest thing to do would have to say ‘we’re not going to make it, nobody expects us to qualify for Afcon’,” Ekandjo said during the MTC Knockout Project event in Windhoek yesterday.

“But these guys decided ‘we are going to qualify under the most difficult circumstances’. We need to celebrate them,” he said.

“We’re not just asking you to go and do miracles. We are supporting you. We are aiming to raise N$5 million through this project in the space of one month. We are inviting corporates to pledge an amount of a minimum of N$100 000,” Ekandjo said.

The Knockout Project’s earlier three editions raised funds towards creating a dialogue around gender-based violence; the building of affordable housing for the homeless; before bolstering National Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) students and upcoming gardeners in aid of food security.

“We will come back and account for every cent collected on 8 December. Already, we have four corporates on board. There is an SMS line through which the public can contribute a minimum of N$3,” Ekandjo said, adding that all gate proceeds of the Dr Hage Geingob Cup, which is scheduled for 18 November, will go to the Brave Warriors.

“There’s a tendency for corporates in the public sector to shy away from these things. We cannot just expect those in the private sector to come and contribute. This must be a joint collaboration. We must send the team prepared with confidence to Afcon in 2024.”

Furthermore, the nation’s expectations should be aligned to reality, Ekandjo said.

Namibia battles South Africa, Tunisia and Mali in the finals, countries with a much higher football pedigree and who have a plethora of professional players to call on.

“We want to send the team to Ivory Coast prepared. We always expect a lot of results but we do not prepare as well as our opponents do. Let us ensure that when the team leaves, they have everything they need to go and fight,” said Ekandjo.

“The Brave Warriors have never qualified past the group stages. We are saying to them, ‘the nation is behind you’. Not just through this project but from what you have already achieved.”

Namibia Special Risks Insurance Association (Nasria) executive marketing officer Ndapona Schleberger echoed Ekandjo’s plea: “These are our boys, our warriors. They can only make it with our support. Without us, they will always lag behind. As much as we are a small population, we can really do much better. We want to expect so much from them but we can’t give them a little bit to make it out there.”

Namibia Housing Enterprise (NHE) communications and marketing manager Mutonga Matali said the Brave Warriors had done the nation proud by qualifying for the nations cup. NHE pledged N$100 000 towards the project.

“We understand what the team is trying to do. We also understand the initiative in terms of supporting the team. We hope this small donation will help the team in terms of preparation,” Matali said.

GET THAT ELUSIVE FIRST WIN

A delighted Collin Benjamin said the support was a “massive” shot in the arm. He believes his charges will hold their own against their more illustrious rivals at the tournament.

“Our dream is to win a match at the coming Afcon. You have a good chance of progressing to the next round. We want that win and we’re gonna get that win,” an emotional Benjamin said.

“I’m pleased that we have corporates and people in support of these boys where we say ‘we’re going to send them off with proper preparation so that we can also hold them accountable’,” the Brave Warriors coach said.

“We will give the boys the message that the nation is behind them, there are people that are rooting for them. This is definitely motivation for them. Thank you so much.

Brave Warriors vice captain Ananias Gebhardt, who plies his trade with Baroka FC in the South African first division, said the team was grateful for the backing.

“The Brave Warriors want to thank you and promise you that we will do our best to make our nation proud,” said the veteran defender.