Sheefeni Nikodemus
31 March 2011
CAPTAIN of the Brave Gladiators, Queen Manga, said the positive morale in the team will push them to greater heights against Nigeria on Sunday.
Manga said yesterday that the squad was in high spirits ahead of the All Africa Games first leg qualifier and the team is looking forward to showing the rest of the continent just how much they have progressed over the past years.
According to Manga, the Brave Gladiators are feeling confident after comfortably seeing off neighbours Botswana 1-0 in a friendly last Saturday plus their narrow 1-2 loss against the highly rated Banyana Banyana in South Africa a fortnight ago. Manga said the team could even cause an upset to the Super Falcons.
In 2008 the Super Falcons hammered the Brave Gladiators 10-1 on aggregate in an African Nations Cup qualifier, however this time Manga believes the encounter will be a much closer affair.
Namibia are ranked 17th in African women’s football while Nigeria are the top team on the continent.
“We are not going there to lose,” said Manga, who is poised for her 34th cap on Sunday.
“Last time we were not well prepared. I feel that Sunday will go very well for us.
“We are developing into a super team!”
Manga said the plan is not only to contain their robust opponents but that they would be aiming to get on the score sheet as well. The captain believes there is enough attacking potential in the side to trouble the Nigerian defence during the course of the match.
“Our aim is to defend well,” she said. “We want at least a draw so that we can give ourselves a good chance in the return leg.”
Apart from a niggling knee strain for the 25 year-old skipper, fellow defensive stalwart Stacey Naris also has a thigh problem. Despite this, both players came through yesterday’s training unscathed and should be fit to face Nigeria.
Coach Jacqueline Shipanga made one change to the team, which sees goalkeeper Lydia Eichas dropped and her place taken by defender Ndapewa Ituta.
Shipanga said Eichas, who doubles as an outfield player, was struggling for fitness which prompted the switch.
The team departs for Abuja at 18h00 tomorrow and are expected back Monday evening.
The full squad is as follows:
Goalkeepers: Sussana Eises, Novata Paulus; Defenders: Stacey Naris, Albertha Dawes, Stefany Hummel, Queen Manga, Mariana Gaebutsi, Vewe Kotjipati, Rejoice Kasaona, and Mangulukeni Hamata; Midfielders: Stefanie Cloete, Marele Polster, Zenatha Coleman, Tomalina Adams, Ndapewa Lina Ituta; Strikers: Juliana Skrywer, Emmerencia Fredericks, and Salome Iiyambo.
AllAfrica – All the Time
