Warriors lose to Botswana in friendly

NAMIBIA’S Brave Warriors lost 1-0 in their international friendly match against Botswana in Gaborone on Tuesday evening, marking their fifth defeat since 2003 against that country.

The match is reported to have been played in heavy rain, with Botswana only scoring their goal in the 60th minute. Namibia’s first loss to Botswana was recorded in 2001 when it fell 3-2 in a Four Nations Cup Friendly tournament, while on March 16 in 2002, Namibia went down 3-1 in an international friendly.In 2003, Namibia was knocked out by Botswana in the Cosafa Castle Cup first round, losing 1-0, in a match that proved painful for the many local supporters who packed the Independence Stadium on March 3 that year.Next, the Brave Warriors, who were struggling to find form, lost 2-1 on penalties after a one-all draw during the Cosafa Castle Cup first round at the Independence Stadium in Windhoek on April 16 2005.That match exposed the inability of Namibian players to take penalty shots.In 2004, Namibia drew 0-0 against that country in an international friendly played in Windhoek on April 28.But before those defeats, Namibia had the upper hand over their neighbours, especially after Namibia’s Independence in 1990.At one stage, the side beat Botswana 7-1, with now dejected Namibian international Razundara Tjikuzu walking away with a hat-trick in that match.This time, with coach Ben Bamfuchile tasked to take the side through the African Nations Cup and World Cup qualifiers, the team look poised for better things despite the loss.According to reports, Bamfuchile was happy with the performance of the players on the day, despite his plea to them to go for a win at all costs.As customary for many coaches who end on the losing side, Bamfuchile said he was experimenting with the players during the encounter, despite most of them having played at least four international matches as a team.Bamfuchile took a total of 15 local players, while they were joined by five South African-based professionals players.The side is in preparations for their African Nations Cup home-leg qualifier against Libya on March 24.Despite the Brave Warriors losing, the focus this weekend will be turned to the MTC CAF Champions League tie between Civics and Angola’s Petro Atletico in Windhoek.The two teams will meet for the second time after the Angolans picked up an apparent 1-0 victory in Luanda, despite the ball going through the side net.This time, the Civics coaching staff declared that they will not show any mercy to the visitors, already considering themselves as ending on top at the Independence Stadium.Civics will welcome its four key players for the encounter who toured with the Warriors to Botswana.They are defender Franklin April, midfielders Jamu Ngatjizeko, Brian Brendell and Brian Gurirab.Namibia’s first loss to Botswana was recorded in 2001 when it fell 3-2 in a Four Nations Cup Friendly tournament, while on March 16 in 2002, Namibia went down 3-1 in an international friendly.In 2003, Namibia was knocked out by Botswana in the Cosafa Castle Cup first round, losing 1-0, in a match that proved painful for the many local supporters who packed the Independence Stadium on March 3 that year.Next, the Brave Warriors, who were struggling to find form, lost 2-1 on penalties after a one-all draw during the Cosafa Castle Cup first round at the Independence Stadium in Windhoek on April 16 2005.That match exposed the inability of Namibian players to take penalty shots.In 2004, Namibia drew 0-0 against that country in an international friendly played in Windhoek on April 28.But before those defeats, Namibia had the upper hand over their neighbours, especially after Namibia’s Independence in 1990.At one stage, the side beat Botswana 7-1, with now dejected Namibian international Razundara Tjikuzu walking away with a hat-trick in that match.This time, with coach Ben Bamfuchile tasked to take the side through the African Nations Cup and World Cup qualifiers, the team look poised for better things despite the loss.According to reports, Bamfuchile was happy with the performance of the players on the day, despite his plea to them to go for a win at all costs.As customary for many coaches who end on the losing side, Bamfuchile said he was experimenting with the players during the encounter, despite most of them having played at least four international matches as a team.Bamfuchile took a total of 15 local players, while they were joined by five South African-based professionals players.The side is in preparations for their African Nations Cup home-leg qualifier against Libya on March 24.Despite the Brave Warriors losing, the focus this weekend will be turned to the MTC CAF Champions League tie between Civics and Angola’s Petro Atletico in Windhoek.The two teams will meet for the second time after the Angolans picked up an apparent 1-0 victory in Luanda, despite the ball going through the side net.This time, the Civics coaching staff declared that they will not show any mercy to the visitors, already considering themselves as ending on top at the Independence Stadium.Civics will welcome its four key players for the encounter who toured with the Warriors to Botswana.They are defender Franklin April, midfielders Jamu Ngatjizeko, Brian Brendell and Brian Gurirab.