Brave Warriors coach Tom Saintfiet has called up five new players to his 25-man squad in preparation for the friendly international match against South Africa in Durban on March 3.
African Stars goalkeeper Max Mbaeva makes a return to the squad after an absence of more than a year, after being dropped due to disciplinary reasons.
Blue Waters defender Gotlieb Nakuta has been recalled after an absence of more than a year, as has former Brave Warriors captain and central defender Michael Pienaar, who plays for South African first division club Carrara Kicks.
Midfielder Letu Shatimuene, who plays for Angolan Premier League side Deportivo de Huilo, has been recalled to the squad after an absence of more than two years, while Orlando Pirates midfielder Johannes Seibeb receives a call up after some impressive performances in the Namibia Premier League.
The match, which will be played at the recently completed Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban, will form part of the 2010 FIFA World Cup 100 Day Countdown event, as it takes place exactly 100 days before the start of the World Cup on June 11.
The squad includes nine foreign based players in Pienaar, Shatimuene, Hartman Toromba of South African first division side Vasco de Gama, Oliver Risser of Norwegian second division side Manglerud Star, Razundara Tjikuzu of Turkish Super League side Diyarbakirspor, Paulus Shipanga of South African first division side Bay United, Rudolph Bester of South African Premier League side Maritzburg United, Henrico Botes of South African Premier League side Platinum Stars and Wilko Risser of German fourth division side Eintracht Trier.
Saintfiet said there had been a lot of misunderstanding regarding Namibia’s Angolan-based players in the past.
“We had called up Letu Shatimuene before but due to poor communication with his club he failed to arrive in the past. But we don’t have a problem with him and hope he will be available this time. With regard to our other Angolan based players, Brian Gurirab is on his way back to Namibia at the moment, while we have a lot of choice in the central midfield position where Dumisa Jantze plays,” he said.
Answering a question as to why Tigers striker Tangeni Shipahu was not included in the squad in place of Wilko Risser, Saintfiet said that the players were not comparable.
“Tangeni was too slow against Zambia and in Tigers’ match against African Stars he hardly touched the ball. Wilko Risser is a professional player in Germany and although Tangeni is a talented player, you cannot compare the Namibian Premier League to the German professional league. Furthermore, Tangeni went to Germany to attend trials last year but he did not make the grade,” he said.
The Namibia squad is as follows:
Goalkeepers:
Athiel Mbaha (Orlando Pirates), Virgil Vries (Eleven Arrows), Max Mbaeva (African Stars).
Defenders:
Hartman Toromba (Vasco de Gama), Gotlieb Nakuta (Blue Waters), Richard Gariseb (Orlando Pirates), Steven Goagab (Orlando Pirates), Ralph Ellinger (SKW), Nelson Geingob (Civics), George Hummel (Eleven Arrows), Oliver Risser (Manglerud Star), Michael Pienaar (Carara Kicks).
Midfielders:
Quinton Jacobs (African Stars), Ninja Karongee (African Stars), Rudi Louw (African Stars), Razundara Tjikuzu (Diyarbakirspor), Letu Shatimuene (Deportivo de Huila), Sidney Plaatjies (unattached), Paulus Shipanga (Bay United), Johannes Seibeb (Orlando Pirates).
Forwards:
Rudolph Bester (Maritzburg United), Henrico Botes (Platinum Stars), Wilko Risser (Eintracht Trier), Heini Isaacks (Civics), Eslin Kamuhanga (Civics).