Brave Warriors selected for Cosafa, Afcon qualifier

Brave Warriors head coach Collin Benjamin named 37 players on Wednesday to prepare for the upcoming Cosafa Senior Challenge and remaining 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.

Benjamin plans to rest many of his key players, including talisman Peter Shalulile, for the Cosafa tournament in South Africa, leaving the new recruits and fringe players to carry the baton. Namibia was runner-up to Zambia in last year’s Cosafa Cup tournament, going down 1-0 in extra time of the nail-biting decider, and are a point away from securing qualification in the Afcon 2023 qualification tournament.

Those that impress significantly at the regional showpiece could force their way into the reckoning when Namibia faces Burundi away in their crucial final Afcon 2023 qualification clash.

“The Brave Warriors did well in the last qualifiers when we could steal points off Cameroon that put us on top of the group. But at the same time, the situation is so crucial that Burundi, as much as people think that they are down and out, they are not,” Benjamin said of the showdown at a yet to be determined venue in East Africa.

Burundi also do not have a stadium that meets Fifa and CAF’s current requirements, with the result that the match may be held in Tanzania.

“If they beat us, and us getting a point in Cameroon also gives them the belief that they can do it. I think the situation is favourable for us. It’s in our hands and we can definitely secure qualification and for that reason, we have to be positive. We are not relying on somebody else,” said Benjamin.

The head coach called up several newcomers who have impressed in the Debmarine Namibia Premiership this season, while regulars Charles Hambira and Loyd Kazapua are not available for selection through injury and suspension respectively.

Unsurprisingly, newly crowned domestic topflight champions African Stars enjoy prominence in the training squad, with no less than five representatives.

Among those to catch Benjamin’s eye are young defenders Arend Aboubakir of Blue Waters, Mighty Gunners’ Given Mutuezu, Nalikewe Nalweendo of struggling Citizens and enterprising Unam midfielder Paulus Amutenya.

Benjamin also wants to have a closer look at Life Fighters midfield duo of Lawrence Doeseb and Devin Somseb, while club mates Erwin Tjiuja and Eliakim Jadsson will get a chance to stake a claim for regular call-ups in the attacking positions.

However, he once again overlooked the topflight’s leading scorer Willy Stephanus of Stars in favour of arguably “the best striker in Africa at the moment” Peter Shalulile and his budding understudy Bethuel Muzeu Muzeu who both ply their trade in South Africa.

Stephanus, who has netted 18 goals this season, is “really doing good” but there is no space for him in the current setup.

“We have Bethuel Muzeu, he’s younger and on the verge of being a beast. He showed a good tournament last year and is under the wings of Peter [Shalulile],” Benjamin explained.

“If we play him [Stephanus] as a No.10, then it means I will have to let go of Prince Tjiueza or Edmar Kamatuka. These are youngsters who need the game-time to develop further. Unfortunately, I cannot have two 30 plus year-olds in the team while a talented youngster is sitting at home,” he said. 

The full squad is as follows:

GOALKEEPERS – Edward Maova (Pretoria Callies, RSA), Ndisiro Kamaijanda (African Stars), Jonas Mateus (Orlando Pirates), Nelly Rooi (Tigers);

DEFENDERS – Ryan Nyambe (Wigan Athletic, ENG), Ivan Kamberipa (Masitaoka, BOT), Arend Aboubakir and Steven Damaseb (both Blue Waters), Kennedy Amutenya (Gaborone United, BOT), Given Mutuezu (Mighty Gunners), Denzel Haoseb (Black Africa), Gianluca Kahingunga (Okahandja United), Annanias Gebhardt (Baroka, RSA), Riaan Hanamub (AmaZulu, RSA), Nalikewe Nalweendo (Citizens), Aprocious Petrus (Liria Prizren, KOV),

MIDFIELDERS – Reverend Matroos (Young Brazilians), Devin Somseb and Lawrence Doeseb (both Life Fighters), Ngero Katua (Unam), Dunmao Fredericks (African Stars), Prinz Tjiueza (Liria Prizren, KOV), Nicodemus Haikali (Tura Magic, Paulus Amutenya (Unam), Marcel papama (Jwaneng, BOT), Uetuuro Kambato (African Stars);

FORWARDS – Absalom Iimbondi (Tigers), Joslyn Kamatuka (African Stars), Peter Shalulile (Sundowns, RSA), Bethuel Muzeu Muzeu (Black Leopards, RSA), Elmo Kambndi (Chippa United, RSA), Junior Petrus (Blue Waters), Deon Hotto (Orlando Pirates, RSA), Wendell Rudath (Jwaneng, BOT), Edmar Kamatuka (African Stars), Erwin Tjiuja and Eliakim Jadsson (Life Fighters).