Tjikuzu Rocks Warriors Boat

Carlos Kambaekwa

3 June 2011

Windhoek — The Brave Warriors have been dealt a major blow ahead of their crucial Confederation of African Football (CAF) Nations Cup qualifier against group leaders Burkina Faso at Windhoek’s Independence Stadium, on Saturday.

Wayward utility defender, Razundara Tjikuzu, is out of contention for selection and although details about his sudden withdrawal remains sketchy – New Era Sports has it on good authority the wayward midfield- cum-defender is locked in contractual negotiations with a new club and has opted to sort out his career interests at the expense of national duty.

Namibia is currently holding the wooden spoon in the three-team Group F that includes table toppers Burkina faso and Gambia.

The Warriors suffered back-to-back defeats in their opening matches away to Gambia (3-1) and Burkina Faso (4-0) respectively and will need a Herculean act to qualify for the 2012 edition of the continental showpiece.

Co-coaches Brian Isaacs and Ronnie Kanalelo have opted for the tried and tested soldiers and many football pundits believe the current crop of players in the Brave Warriors squad have reached the end of their international careers.

Victory for the winless Warriors would give Namibia a glimmer of hope to make her 3rd appearance at the continental showpiece to be hosted jointly by Equatorial Guinea and Gabon.

Veteran butterfingered shot-stopper Athiel Mbaha has been shown the door after he came under a barrage of criticism by the Warriors technical staff in the aftermath of the Warriors’ 4-0 defeat in Ouagadougou that all but signalled the end of Namibia’s aspirations for a place in the last 16 of the 28th edition of the CAF Nations Cup finals.

African Stars’ hard working midfielder Stigga Ketjijere retained his place in the squad following his near faultless display in the Reds engine room during the just ended term, while Orlando Pirates highly gifted midfield-cum-striker Johannes Boetietjie Malgas makes his long overdue return to international football.

However, his club team-mate Ronaldo Tsowaseb is a surprise omission from the final 20-member squad despite putting in sterling performances during the 2010/2011 league campaign.

– The final

20-member squad reads as follows:

Goalkeepers: Ephraim Tjihonge (SKW) and Virgil Vries (Eleven Arrows).

Defenders: Hartman Toromba (Black Africa), Richard Gariseb (Orlando Pirates), Jamu Ngatjizeko (African Stars), Oliver Risser (unattached), Willem Mwedihanga (Tigers), Gotlieb Nakuta (Blue Waters), Teberius Lombaard (Tura Magic), Denzil Haoseb (Black Africa) and Sidney Plaatjies (unattached). Midfielders: Stigga Ketjijere (African Stars), Johannes-Boetietjie Malgas (Orlando Pirates), Bradley Wermann (Black Africa) and Rudolph Bester (Maritzburg United -SA).

Forwards: Lovers Kamuhanga (Ramblers), Jordan Haimbili (Blue Boys), Sidney Uri-Khob (Ramblers), Wilko Risser (Elversberg – Germany) and Tangeni Shipahu (Amazulu – SA).

AllAfrica – All the Time