Risser doubtful for Warriors comeback

NAMIBIAN international footballer Oliver Risser says it will be difficult for him to make a comeback to the

Brave Warriors, after he was ruled out with a serious leg injury for the next six months. Risser’s cruciate ligaments in his right knee are damaged after a thuggish tackle which warranted a straight red by Kenya’s Jamal Mohammed.Mohammed was however never sent off.They were involved in the 2010 World Cup/African Nations Cup match in Nairobi, Kenya, last month.Risser (28) told The Namibian Sport from Dortmund, Germany, that he has started with rehabilitation treatment with some of the top physiotherapists in that city.”I think I will not be available after the recovery.But if I have to play again for the national team, I really have to fight hard for my place as this injury seemed to have caused a big dent in my professional career.”I cannot say yes or no for the national team, but I hope that I will recover well to play again,” he said.Risser has 32 international caps for Namibia and is one of the senior members of the side set to engage Zimbabwe in their last qualifier at the Independence Stadium this weekend.”At the moment, I am very worried and in pain, but I am just looking to the future to get better.I am currently finding my way around the house on crutches,” he said.Asked what he will be doing in his free time except going to rehab, Risser said he might start studying while recovering.”I will see if I can do that, but the most important thing is for me to really get well again,” he said.He said he is confident that the two physiotherapists who work with him will get him fully fit again, but is not sure if he will ever play at the highest level again.He added that if the rehabilitation process goes well, he might even be back in five months’ time.—- Warriors arrive for Zim clash * CORRY IHUHUA BRAVE Warriors midfielder Meraai Swartbooi will not be in action against Zimbabwe on Saturday after he picked up an ankle injury at his Angolan-based club last weekend.The Premeiro de Agosto midfielder has joined striker Henrico Botes, who will also not be available for the last encounter of the Warriors in the 2010 World/African Nations Cup qualifier at the Independence Stadium.Botes, who had a long layoff from the side, told coach Tom Saintfiet and his assistants that he is not yet 100 per cent fit to gun for goals.Botes plays for Platinum Stars in the South African Premier Soccer League (PSL).He was on suspension by CAF for six months since early last year and suffered a string of injuries since making his return about three months ago.Yesterday, Warriors team manager Tim Isaacs confirmed that the technical staff has replaced Botes with Black Africa striker Jerome Louis, while former Civics midfielder Victor Helu has stepped in for Swartbooi.Isaacs confirmed that all the other players have reported for training since Monday, with German duo Wilko Risser and Collin Bejamin arriving yesterday.Other players who arrived on Monday included veteran defender George Hummel, midfielder Quinton Jacobs, and goalkeeper Abisai Shiningayamwe who all play at Jomo Cosmos in South Africa.Defender Hartman Toromba, who plays at Free State Stars (SA), Mamelodi Sundowns midfield cum striker Sidney Plaatjies, South African-based defenders Ivan Namaseb (FC AK), Steven Goagab (Carara Kicks) and Richard Gariseb (Bivest Wits, SA) also arrived.Orlando Pirates midfielder Rudi Louw and Civics central midfield hardman Jamu Ngatjizeko are also in camp.Blue Waters defender Gottlieb Nakuta also reported for training.Namibia lost their first-leg away match 2-0 against Zimbabwe and given the home turf advantage and being their last qualifier, they will have no choice but to win it.Warriors coach Saintfiet has opted to bring in a full-strength squad of foreign internationals because of the inactivity of the domestic league.Namibia has already lost out on making it to the next round of the competition after their 1-0 defeat to Kenya last month.After the match on Saturday, Namaibia is expected to play against South Africa in an international friendly, possibly their last match for the season.Risser’s cruciate ligaments in his right knee are damaged after a thuggish tackle which warranted a straight red by Kenya’s Jamal Mohammed.Mohammed was however never sent off.They were involved in the 2010 World Cup/African Nations Cup match in Nairobi, Kenya, last month.Risser (28) told The Namibian Sport from Dortmund, Germany, that he has started with rehabilitation treatment with some of the top physiotherapists in that city.”I think I will not be available after the recovery.But if I have to play again for the national team, I really have to fight hard for my place as this injury seemed to have caused a big dent in my professional career.”I cannot say yes or no for the national team, but I hope that I will recover well to play again,” he said.Risser has 32 international caps for Namibia and is one of the senior members of the side set to engage Zimbabwe in their last qualifier at the Independence Stadium this weekend.”At the moment, I am very worried and in pain, but I am just looking to the future to get better.I am currently finding my way around the house on crutches,” he said.Asked what he will be doing in his free time except going to rehab, Risser said he might start studying while recovering.”I will see if I can do that, but the most important thing is for me to really get well again,” he said.He said he is confident that the two physiotherapists who work with him will get him fully fit again, but is not sure if he will ever play at the highest level again.He added that if the rehabilitation process goes well, he might even be back in five months’ time.—- Warriors arrive for Zim clash * CORRY IHUHUA BRAVE Warriors midfielder Meraai Swartbooi will not be in action against Zimbabwe on Saturday after he picked up an ankle injury at his Angolan-based club last weekend.The Premeiro de Agosto midfielder has joined striker Henrico Botes, who will also not be available for the last encounter of the Warriors in the 2010 World/African Nations Cup qualifier at the Independence Stadium.Botes, who had a long layoff from the side, told coach Tom Saintfiet and his assistants that he is not yet 100 per cent fit to gun for goals.Botes plays for Platinum Stars in the South African Premier Soccer League (PSL).He was on suspension by CAF for six months since early last year and suffered a string of injuries since making his return about three months ago.Yesterday, Warriors team manager Tim Isaacs confirmed that the technical staff has replaced Botes with Black Africa striker Jerome Louis, while former Civics midfielder Victor Helu has stepped in for Swartbooi.Isaacs confirmed that all the other players have reported for training since Monday, with German duo Wilko Risser and Collin Bejamin arriving yesterday.Other players who arrived on Monday included veteran defender George Hummel, midfielder Quinton Jacobs, and goalkeeper Abisai Shiningayamwe who all play at Jomo Cosmos in South Africa.Defender Hartman Toromba, who plays at Free State Stars (SA), Mamelodi Sundowns midfield cum striker Sidney Plaatjies, South African-based defenders Ivan Namaseb (FC AK), Steven Goagab (Carara Kicks) and Richard Gariseb (Bivest Wits, SA) also arrived.Orlando Pirates midfielder Rudi Louw and Civics central midfield hardman Jamu Ngatjizeko are also in camp.Blue Waters defender Gottlieb Nakuta also reported for training.Namibia lost their first-leg away match 2-0 against Zimbabwe and given the home turf advantage and being their last qualifier, they will have no choice but to win it.Warriors coach Saintfiet has opted to bring in a full-strength squad of foreign internationals because of the inactivity of the domestic league.Namibia has already lost out on making it to the next round of the competition after their 1-0 defeat to Kenya last month.After the match on Saturday, Namaibia is expected to play against South Africa in an international friendly, possibly their last match for the season.