George Hummel has been dropped from the Brave Warriors squad at his own request.
Hummel was a notable absentee at this morningâ??s practise session and team manager Tim Isaacs told Namibia Sport that Hummel had requested to be dropped from the squad following his performance against Zambia last Saturday.
â??Hummel asked coach Bamfuchile not to consider him anymore for national games, as he felt that he could not add value to the squad anymore,â? Isaacs said.
Isaacs said Hummel had been given a few days to think about his decision, but when he didnâ??t turn up for training this morning it was accepted that he didnâ??t want to be part of the squad anymore.
â??George said he rather wanted to pay more attention to his club, Moroka Swallows,â? Isaacs added.
Defence lacks experience
Hummel has represented Namibia on 33 occasions, dating back to 1994 when he made his debut against Guinea. It was, however, only in 1998 that won his second cap against Saudi Arabia.
Since then he has been a regular member of the team, becoming one of Namibiaâ??s most experienced defenders in the process. In defence, only Mohammed Ouseb, Stanley Goagoseb, Bimbo Tjihero and Petrus Haraseb have won more caps than Hummel, while the late Sylvanus Njambari also won 33 caps for Namibia.
Hummelâ??s departure will leave Namibia short of experience in defence for Saturdayâ??s African Cup of Nations qualifier against Libya.
Namibiaâ??s most capped defender, Mohammed Ouseb has been out for close to a year with a serious knee injury, while Richard Gariseb was also recently injured in a league match for his club, Bidwest Wits.
In their absence, Michael Pienaar, Maleagi Ngarizemo and Gottlieb Nakuta will be in contention for the central defendersâ?? positions.
Isaacs shoots down Jacobsâ?? claims
Isaacs also shot down claims by Quinton Jacobs, who was dropped from the squad following the away defeat to Libya on March 25, that he was played out of position.
Jacobs, who plays for Bryne SV in Norway, was quoted in a local daily that he was unhappy at being dropped from the squad and that he had to play striker against Libya, while he is actually a midfielder.
â??If you are a professional you should be able to play in any position on the field, bar the goalkeeper. When the starting lineup was announced, Quinton did not complain.
He had a free role to play where he felt comfortable and was never ordered to play up front. He only complained after he was substituted, but if he had a problem he should have made it clear from the beginning,â? Isaacs said.
Final squad
Meanwhile, the NFA announced the final squad of 20 players for Saturdayâ??s match against Libya, which starts at 15h00 at Windhoekâ??s Independence Stadium.
The squad is as follows:
Goalkeepers:
Athiel Mbaha (unattached), Abisai Shiningayamwe (Jomo Cosmos).
Defenders:
Franklin April (Civics), Jeremia Baisako (Tigers), Michael Pienaar (Ramblers), Maleagi Ngarizemo (African Stars), Gottlieb Nakuta (Blue Waters), Hartman Toromba (Black Leopards)
Midfielders:
Oliver Risser (Bonner SV), Letu Shatimuene (Tigers), Jamu Ngatjizeko (Civics), Collin Benjamin (Hamburg SV), Brian Brendell (Civics), Meraai Swartbooi (Primaro Agosto), Sidney Plaatjies (Jomo Cosmos), Robert Nauseb (Santos).
Strikers:
Eddy Musweu (Namib Chiefs), Tara Katupose (Epupa Eleven Stars), Muna Katupose (Epupa Eleven Stars), Patrick Jagger (Orlando Pirates).