Crown favourite makes return

A blissful Mannetti announced his 26-man squad that will be trimmed down to 18 for the Afcon qualifiers match against Niger on 4 June at the Sam Nujoma Stadium.
The 18-man squad for the game against Niger will be increased to 20-men for the Cosafa cup before the quarter final match on 18 June against Botswana.
“He is back, Wangu Gome is back to the squad and I could see the hunger in the humble young player during yesterday’s training session in the morning,” he said.
Mannetti elaborated on the return of Gome and Free State Stars Dacosta Angula, saying the number of games played by the two players is almost equal.
He further said that he still has almost three weeks to fix the two and they are all happy to be back.
“They have had some game time lately and they are back and I have enough time to work with them and push them up to the level I need them to be. We will be without Chris Katjiukua against Niger due to two yellow cards he received thus far and so players such as Da Costa can come in handy,” he explained.
Meanwhile, the team will be without captain Ronald Ketjijere and his teammate Willem Mwedihanga for Niger and Cosafa as their club (University of Pretoria) is involved in play-offs that are scheduled from 25 May to 25 June while Maritzburg United goalkeeper Virgil Vries also returned the squad.
Highlands Park’s Peter Shalulile will also not feature in the Niger game while it is also doubtful that he will play the Cosafa knock-out stages.
Mannetti said because of the play-offs that Shalulile’s team is involved in; his team has the right not to release him.
“His team (Highlands) has also informed us that Shalulile has not properly healed from an injury he sustained during the match against Burundi, so he is out for the Niger game and we are hoping we can use him for Cosafa,” said the coach.
He added that they are just relying on the relationship with Shalulile’s club and his coach, noting that if they say no it is within their rights because Cosafa does not fall under the FIFA calendar.
Amazulu’s Petrus Shitembi will also not be part of the Niger and Cosafa squad as he is nursing an injury that might keep him out of the game for almost six weeks.
Mannetti added that Thailand-based Lazarus Kaimbi and Sadney Urikhob are also not considered due to club commitments.
“I have made the decision that it does to make sense to say that I can play five players two weeks after that I can’t use them because who then am I going to put in their place?
“That would mean I have to use players that I might be giving first cap in a knock-out competition which for me is not fair for the team set up and on the player. I have decided to use players that will be available for Cosafa and test them against Niger,” he said.
He added that if there is any problem from the match against Niger he will have two weeks to fix it before Cosafa.
The Brave Warriors are expected to play two friendly matches before the Cosafa cup quarter final tie against Botswana which can be good momentum for the team.
Here are the 26 Brave Warriors in camp: Edward Maova (Civics), David Peterson (Tigers), Max Mbaeva (Golden Arrows), Virgil Vries (Maritzburg United), Da costa Angula (Free State Stars), Chris Katjiukua (Golden Arrows) Denzil Hoaseb (Black Africa), Tiberius Lombard (Tura Magic), Romario Ndjavera (Tigers), Ferdinand Karongee (Tigers), Edmund Kambanda (Unam), Riaan !Hanamub (Orlando Pirates), Oswaldo Xamseb (Tura Magic), Deon Hotto (Golden Arrows), Dynamo Fredericks (Black Africa), Hendrick Somaeb (Free State Stars),Willy Stephanus(Black Africa), Absalom Iimbondi(Tigers), Immanuel Heita (Black Africa), Terdius Uiseb (Orlando Pirates), Roger katjiteo (Black Africa), Larry Horaeb (Tura Magic), Ananias Gebhardt (Black Africa) and Patience Gaseb (Mighty Gunners), Wangu Gome (Bidvest Wits) and Benson Shilongo (Gaborone United).
KAINO NGHITONGO