Novice Warriors ‘need time’

Collin Benjamin has called on the nation to exercise patience with the new Brave Warriors crop who drew 1-1 with Liberia in Wednesday’s Fifa World Cup qualifier in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Injuries to key regulars, including captain and talisman Peter Shalulile, saw the head coach handing debuts to six players, all of whom ply their trade in Namibia’s amateur topflight.

The result meant Namibia dropped to second place in Group H, with Tunisia now ahead by two points after beating Equatorial Guinea 1-0 the same day for a third consecutive win in as many matches.

A depleted Namibia will have to muster a “phenomenal” performance to overcome Tunisia, who come into Sunday’s match with a grudge from being stunned by the Warriors at the Africa Cup of Nations earlier this year, Benjamin says.

After a bright start to the match, when Tjipee Karuuombe deftly put Namibia ahead inside eight minutes, the inexperience at international level eventually told as Benjamin’s youthful charges struggled to deal with a sustained aerial assault from the Lone Stars.

Benjamin, who is rebuilding the Brave Warriors in his third year in charge, lamented the poor game management which allowed Liberia to equalise 25 minutes from time through Terry Sackor.

“I think we started off very well. I mean, if we can go into into the lead in the eighth minute, we normally have it under control. We should have it under control. But you could see that the inexperience actually cost us,” Benjamin said in his post-match analysis.

“We’re going to give them the time. And the nation just has to be a bit patient with them. They’re going to come to the level where their seniors are now.”

Benjamin is wary of the table-topping North Africans who have found renewed vigour after the catastrophic Afcon campaign in Ivory Coast where Namibia humbled them 1-0.

After contributing to Tunisia’s group stage exit, the Brave Warriors went on to record their best performance at the continental showpiece tournament, reaching the knock-out phase for the first time.

Sunday’s clash is unlikely to follow the same script, said Benjamin, who wants his players to minimise their mistakes and raise their level.

“We’re going to have to prepare properly. We’re going to have to see that the regeneration process now goes as fast as possible, so that we can actually come out with more energy, with more conviction, with more willpower to try and beat the challenge that’s waiting for us on Sunday,” said Benjamin.

Benjamin also said playing their home matches in empty stadiums in South Africa was a disadvantage to the Brave Warriors.

Already thin on quality, the team can do better with a 12th man, he said.

“The truth is that, football is a game of emotions and passion. And, you know, we play a game like this where there’s nobody, you know, there’s certain influences that you as a coach probably have,” Benjamin said in response to a query about Namibia’s continued failure to construct a stadium fit for international matches.

“There’s a certain element that a player needs. They have to be pushed by the people. They have to be pushed by a crowd. And that’s how they excel,” he said.

“I’m not going to . . . talk it away and say it’s normal, it’s abnormal. But this is what we have,” Benjamin said.