From the Sidelines

THE Brave Warriors are improving with each game and their friendly match against South Africa on Wednesday night was a clear indication on what awaits this young side.

What awaits them is surely a bright future. They stood their ground and were at no point intimidated by Bafana Bafana, or is it Kapana Kapana? What can be drawn from this match is that with more matches on international level, Namibia could claim its rightful place among the powerhouses of African football.Kudos to Namibian coach Ben Bamfuchile, who has truly shown that he is the right man for the job, and the players who believed in themselves by dishing out such a fantastic performance.It is important for the people to understand that a coach of Bamfuchile’s calibre will need more time with the team to bring in results.Bamfuchile was appointed when there was no league activity in the country and he has never had an opportunity to see most of the Namibian players in action.He has a three-year contract with the Namibia Football Association (NFA) and it will be best for him to have a chance to prove himself before his term expires.He seriously needs support, firstly from his bosses, and cooperation from his players and the nation should not be too quick to judge but should be patient.Moreover, the supporters who came to support the team in huge numbers on Wednesday were not disappointed and most commended the guts, determination and a terrific blend of football by the Namibians.The South Africans, with their wealth of experience on international level and most being professionals in that country and abroad, were made to look ordinary by the home team.It is true that if you don’t score goals you don’t win, but there is so much optimism in the Namibian camp that the team will go far, judging by their performance that has improved since the Seychelles game in the Cosafa Cup.Goal scoring remains one of the biggest problems for the Namibians and all have admitted that fact.But surely that will be a thing of the past as soon as the right combination has been found upfront to finish off those crosses.Another notable fact is that most of the Namibian players who are currently in the squad are below 25 years of age and have fewer than 10 international caps to their credit.They will gain more confidence and their composure will increase dramatically if they regularly play high-profile matches.I believe that the football authorities have now taken note of the huge potential that this team has and how far they can go, provided that money is pumped in for them to make it to the top.Football bosses also have the task to turn the side into a reputable brand, while the recent formation of the Brave Warriors Supporters’ Club can restore national pride in the national side.The members of the supporters’ club did a wonderful job on Wednesday, as they were clad in the national colours and cheered patriotically for the team.More people should join the chorus because support is important for any team to put on a good display.Namibians should get out of the comfort of their living rooms and come to the stadium to rally behind the team whenever they play.Also, it was pleasing to see that the crowd behaved well and there were no missiles from the stands, unlike the Seychelles match.That is the spirit that should be maintained.Sometimes sport is not just about winning – one should appreciate its sheer excitement.There is urgency for Namibia to improve its position on the world rankings and this can be achieved only if we win our international matches.There is a lot of hope for this team; so much potential in the players that can be turned into a more aggressive and hungry bunch.In all honesty, the Brave Warriors have shown that they are tired of being labelled as habitual losers and are serious in restoring their pride.They are not doing this for themselves, but for the entire Namibia, so let’s support the national team even if they lose, as the future looks bright.They stood their ground and were at no point intimidated by Bafana Bafana, or is it Kapana Kapana? What can be drawn from this match is that with more matches on international level, Namibia could claim its rightful place among the powerhouses of African football.Kudos to Namibian coach Ben Bamfuchile, who has truly shown that he is the right man for the job, and the players who believed in themselves by dishing out such a fantastic performance.It is important for the people to understand that a coach of Bamfuchile’s calibre will need more time with the team to bring in results.Bamfuchile was appointed when there was no league activity in the country and he has never had an opportunity to see most of the Namibian players in action.He has a three-year contract with the Namibia Football Association (NFA) and it will be best for him to have a chance to prove himself before his term expires.He seriously needs support, firstly from his bosses, and cooperation from his players and the nation should not be too quick to judge but should be patient.Moreover, the supporters who came to support the team in huge numbers on Wednesday were not disappointed and most commended the guts, determination and a terrific blend of football by the Namibians.The South Africans, with their wealth of experience on international level and most being professionals in that country and abroad, were made to look ordinary by the home team.It is true that if you don’t score goals you don’t win, but there is so much optimism in the Namibian camp that the team will go far, judging by their performance that has improved since the Seychelles game in the Cosafa Cup.Goal scoring remains one of the biggest problems for the Namibians and all have admitted that fact.But surely that will be a thing of the past as soon as the right combination has been found upfront to finish off those crosses.Another notable fact is that most of the Namibian players who are currently in the squad are below 25 years of age and have fewer than 10 international caps to their credit.They will gain more confidence and their composure will increase dramatically if they regularly play high-profile matches.I believe that the football authorities have now taken note of the huge potential that this team has and how far they can go, provided that money is pumped in for them to make it to the top.Football bosses also have the task to turn the side into a reputable brand, while the recent formation of the Brave Warriors Supporters’ Club can restore national pride in the national side.The members of the supporters’ club did a wonderful job on Wednesday, as they were clad in the national colours and cheered patriotically for the team.More people should join the chorus because support is important for any team to put on a good display.Namibians should get out of the comfort of their living rooms and come to the stadium to rally behind the team whenever they play.Also, it was pleasing to see that the crowd behaved well and there were no missiles from the stands, unlike the Seychelles match.That is the spirit that should be maintained.Sometimes sport is not just about winning – one should appreciate its sheer excitement.There is urgency for Namibia to improve its position on the world rankings and this can be achieved only if we win our international matches.There is a lot of hope for this team; so much potential in the players that can be turned into a more aggressive and hungry bunch.In all honesty, the Brave Warriors have shown that they are tired of being labelled as habitual losers and are serious in restoring their pride.They are not doing this for themselves, but for the entire Namibia, so let’s support the national team even if they lose, as the future looks bright.