A Warriors trip down memory lane
Jesse Jackson Kauraisa
The Brave Warriors have produced great memories over the years, with some joyful and tearful ones along the way.
It has been 30 years since independence and the national team remains close to the hearts of many Namibians.
There have been disappointing moments, but the faithful continue to cheer and support their national team.
The Brave Warriors have played against a total number of 45 countries.
Three of these countries are non-African. They are India, Lebanon and Saudi Arabia.
Namibia played their first international under the name South West Africa on 16 May 1989 at home against neighbouring Angola and lost 1-0.
On 23 March 1990, only two days after gaining independence from South Africa, the country hosted neighbours Zimbabwe and lost 5-1 after fielding an assembled team.
Namibia’s first fully-fledged international match after independence was played on 7 June 1990.
It was a friendly that saw the Brave Warriors losing 2-1 to Mauritius at home.
Namibia has made three appearances in the African Cup of Nations (Afcon), going out in the first round in all three tournaments.
In 1998, Namibia lost to Ivory Coast 4-3 and drew with Angola 3-3 before losing to South Africa 4–1.
In 2008, Namibia lost to Morocco 5-1 and to Ghana 1-0, but drew with Guinea 1-1 in their last match.
In 2019, they lost all their group games, scoring only a solitary goal. They lost to Morocco 1-0, and suffered a loss by the same scoreline to South Africa, before losing to Ivory Coast 4-1.
Two of the country’s biggest defeats since independence came at the hands of former African champions, Egypt.
In 1996, Namibia suffered a humiliating 7-1 defeat to Egypt in Cairo. They also lost 8-2 to the Egyptians on 13 July 2001 in Alexandrea, Egypt.
Namibia have not only endured heavy defeats in the past 30 years, but also managed to orchestrate some joyous victories.
Their biggest victory to date came against Benin at the Independence Stadium in a game in which the players fired on all cylinders.
It was in 2000 when the Namibians ran rings around Benin, beating them 8-2 at the Independence Stadium in July in an Afcon qualifier match.
The country against which Namibia have played the most games is Zambia, with 20 matches. The Brave Warriors have played Botswana 19 times.
Malawi have been Namibia’s favourite team to play against since independence, given that they have beaten them eight times in 15 encounters.
Malawi have only managed to beat Namibia four times, with the other three matches ending in draws.
Zambia have been Namibia’s nemesis, given that they have lost eight times in 20 matches against their northern border neighbours.
The second highest number of defeats were registered against Botswana and Angola, who have both defeated Namibia seven times.
“Playing for the national team, and eventually becoming a coach, has been something phenomenal for me.
“Wearing that jersey is the greatest thing and we always had to play with passion, knowing that we carry the hopes of a football-loving nation on our shoulders,” former Brave Warriors midfielder and subsequent coach Ricardo Mannetti said.
The most capped Brave Warriors player is retired midfielder Johannes ‘Congo’ Hindjou with 69 caps and Rudolph Bester is the all-time top goal-scorer with 13 goals.
“To be part of the national team and having represented the country at the highest level of football is an honour.
“In our time, we did not play for fame or money, but it was simply for the love and passion we had for our country and football in general,” Hindjou said.
The Brave Warriors coaches after independence are as follows:
Eric Muinjo: 1990
Rusten Mogane: 1998
Mlungisi Ngubane: 1998
Seth Boois: 1998-99
Heinze-Peter Urberjahn: 1999
Herman Katjiuongua: 2000
Lucky Ricthter: 2000
Theodor Ted Dumitru: 2000/01
Ben Bamfuchile: 2006/07
Arie Schans: 2007/2008
Tom Saintfiet: 2008/2010
Brian Isaacs (caretaker): 2010/11
Bernard Kaanjuka: 2011/13
Roger Palmgren: 2013
Ricardo Mannetti: 2013/15
Ronnie Kanalelo (caretaker): 2015
Ricardo Mannetti: 2015/19
Bobby Samaria (interim): 2019/2020
Some Warriors stats:
Total competitive matches played - 253
Won - 67
Drawn - 69
Lost - 117
Goals for - 252
Goals against - 362
Goal-difference - minus 110
Participation in competitions:
Fifa World Cup: Never qualified
Afcon
1998 Burkina Faso - group stage
2008 Ghana - group stage
2019 Egypt - group stage
African Nations Championship (Chan)
Morocco 2018 - quarter-finals
Cameroon 2020 - qualified (tournament takes place in April)
Cosafa Cup
1997 - 2nd place
1998 - 4th place
1999 - 2nd place
2000 - quarter-finals
2001 to 2008 (did not qualify)
2009 - quarter-finals
2010 - tournament cancelled
2013 - 7th place
2014 - tournament not played
2015 - CHAMPIONS
2016 - plate final winners
2017 - 6th place
2018 – plate semi-final
2019 – group stage
The Brave Warriors have produced great memories over the years, with some joyful and tearful ones along the way.
It has been 30 years since independence and the national team remains close to the hearts of many Namibians.
There have been disappointing moments, but the faithful continue to cheer and support their national team.
The Brave Warriors have played against a total number of 45 countries.
Three of these countries are non-African. They are India, Lebanon and Saudi Arabia.
Namibia played their first international under the name South West Africa on 16 May 1989 at home against neighbouring Angola and lost 1-0.
On 23 March 1990, only two days after gaining independence from South Africa, the country hosted neighbours Zimbabwe and lost 5-1 after fielding an assembled team.
Namibia’s first fully-fledged international match after independence was played on 7 June 1990.
It was a friendly that saw the Brave Warriors losing 2-1 to Mauritius at home.
Namibia has made three appearances in the African Cup of Nations (Afcon), going out in the first round in all three tournaments.
In 1998, Namibia lost to Ivory Coast 4-3 and drew with Angola 3-3 before losing to South Africa 4–1.
In 2008, Namibia lost to Morocco 5-1 and to Ghana 1-0, but drew with Guinea 1-1 in their last match.
In 2019, they lost all their group games, scoring only a solitary goal. They lost to Morocco 1-0, and suffered a loss by the same scoreline to South Africa, before losing to Ivory Coast 4-1.
Two of the country’s biggest defeats since independence came at the hands of former African champions, Egypt.
In 1996, Namibia suffered a humiliating 7-1 defeat to Egypt in Cairo. They also lost 8-2 to the Egyptians on 13 July 2001 in Alexandrea, Egypt.
Namibia have not only endured heavy defeats in the past 30 years, but also managed to orchestrate some joyous victories.
Their biggest victory to date came against Benin at the Independence Stadium in a game in which the players fired on all cylinders.
It was in 2000 when the Namibians ran rings around Benin, beating them 8-2 at the Independence Stadium in July in an Afcon qualifier match.
The country against which Namibia have played the most games is Zambia, with 20 matches. The Brave Warriors have played Botswana 19 times.
Malawi have been Namibia’s favourite team to play against since independence, given that they have beaten them eight times in 15 encounters.
Malawi have only managed to beat Namibia four times, with the other three matches ending in draws.
Zambia have been Namibia’s nemesis, given that they have lost eight times in 20 matches against their northern border neighbours.
The second highest number of defeats were registered against Botswana and Angola, who have both defeated Namibia seven times.
“Playing for the national team, and eventually becoming a coach, has been something phenomenal for me.
“Wearing that jersey is the greatest thing and we always had to play with passion, knowing that we carry the hopes of a football-loving nation on our shoulders,” former Brave Warriors midfielder and subsequent coach Ricardo Mannetti said.
The most capped Brave Warriors player is retired midfielder Johannes ‘Congo’ Hindjou with 69 caps and Rudolph Bester is the all-time top goal-scorer with 13 goals.
“To be part of the national team and having represented the country at the highest level of football is an honour.
“In our time, we did not play for fame or money, but it was simply for the love and passion we had for our country and football in general,” Hindjou said.
The Brave Warriors coaches after independence are as follows:
Eric Muinjo: 1990
Rusten Mogane: 1998
Mlungisi Ngubane: 1998
Seth Boois: 1998-99
Heinze-Peter Urberjahn: 1999
Herman Katjiuongua: 2000
Lucky Ricthter: 2000
Theodor Ted Dumitru: 2000/01
Ben Bamfuchile: 2006/07
Arie Schans: 2007/2008
Tom Saintfiet: 2008/2010
Brian Isaacs (caretaker): 2010/11
Bernard Kaanjuka: 2011/13
Roger Palmgren: 2013
Ricardo Mannetti: 2013/15
Ronnie Kanalelo (caretaker): 2015
Ricardo Mannetti: 2015/19
Bobby Samaria (interim): 2019/2020
Some Warriors stats:
Total competitive matches played - 253
Won - 67
Drawn - 69
Lost - 117
Goals for - 252
Goals against - 362
Goal-difference - minus 110
Participation in competitions:
Fifa World Cup: Never qualified
Afcon
1998 Burkina Faso - group stage
2008 Ghana - group stage
2019 Egypt - group stage
African Nations Championship (Chan)
Morocco 2018 - quarter-finals
Cameroon 2020 - qualified (tournament takes place in April)
Cosafa Cup
1997 - 2nd place
1998 - 4th place
1999 - 2nd place
2000 - quarter-finals
2001 to 2008 (did not qualify)
2009 - quarter-finals
2010 - tournament cancelled
2013 - 7th place
2014 - tournament not played
2015 - CHAMPIONS
2016 - plate final winners
2017 - 6th place
2018 – plate semi-final
2019 – group stage
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