The Brave Warriors finally lived up to their true potential with a great 4-2 victory against Zimbabwe on October 11. Although they were already out of the World Cup qualifiers they showed what they are capable of with a slick and professional display that stunned the Zimbabweans and left the home fans savouring a special performance.
It was a remarkable turnaround after unconvincing displays earlier in the qualifiers and the man that has largely been responsible for this is their new coach Tom Saintfiet. When he arrived barely three months ago he took over a demoralised team and turned it into a winning outfit with great potential for the future. In the November edition of Namibia Sport magazine we bring you an in depth interview with Saintfiet in which he elaborates on his winning formula and his roadmap for the 2012 African Cup of Nations qualifiers.
October was also a successful month for the Brave Gladiators after they beat their South African counterparts, Banyana Banyana for the first time in their history. This team has made remarkable progress and under the professional leadership of Jacky Gertze, Jacqueline Shipanga and head coach Max Johnson they, too, have an exciting future, starting with the SADC Youth Games next month where Namibia will hope to clinch gold.
Namibia’s cricketers are on the verge of making history after qualifying for the ICC Intercontinental Cup final. Their opponents, Ireland, will start as strong favourites after they beat Namibia by eight runs in their final group match, while they will be aiming to win the title for the third year in a row, but Namibia has the potential to win. All rounder Gerrie Snyman has had a brilliant season, and in players like Kola Burger, Louis and Sarel Burger and Louis Klazinga they have other match winners who can help them clinch the title.
Boxing in Namibia is growing at a fast pace and last month another successful bonanza drew a full house of fans as Ali Nuumbembe beat Daniel Kaefer of Germany on a fourth round technical knockout. Nuumbembe will this month challenge South Africa’s Bongani Mwelase for the World Boxing Foundation’s welterweight title, while The Hitman Moses will finally meet Japan’s Yusuke Kobori for the World Boxing Association’s lightweight title.
In the November edition of Namibia Sport we also report on Agnes Samaria’s retirement after a successful athletics career as well as the Namibian team that brought home one silver medal from the Commonwealth Youth Games.
There’s much more, from rugby, motor rallying, bowls and cycling to an interview with Brave Warriors defender George Hummel who is back in the team after an absence of more than a year.
Helge Schutz