Fans are being fantastic
Many have criticised Namibian fans for misbehaving at the stadiums whenever the Brave Warriors are playing, but I must congratulate them for the way they behaved during the Hage Geingob Cup.
The Sam Nujoma Stadium was packed to its capacity about a week ago and the red colours of the national team looked so beautiful on the pavilions.
It was one of those atmospheres that Namibian football has been yearning for.
It reminded me of the time when the Brave Warriors still had the likes of Congo Hindjou and Riccardo Mannetti as players.
The incredible support that the men and women of this country gave was something to smile about.
President Hage Geingob was so excited and energetic that he went to the extent of doing the famous 'Okamannetti'. Now that, is what we call patriotism.
It is indeed a special feeling to see Namibians standing behind their team in such large numbers.
The goalkeeper of the Brave Warriors went on to post on social media after the game that he had always dreamed of playing in front of such a large crowd.
Thanks to the Namibian people that they made the goalkeeper realise his dream.
The team played brilliant football because the spectators cheered for the team all the way.
I am almost certain that many who went to watch the team for the first time can't wait for another home game just to enjoy the electric atmosphere.
It is now up to the Namibia Football Association (NFA) to draw more people to the stadium by marketing the home matches.
I have realised that the team plays better when it has the support of its people.
It is with this that I would like the NFA to find a way in which they can get more fans to travel to the African Nations Championship (CHAN) tournament slated for Morocco in January.
I know that it is going to be expensive and remains a daunting task for many Namibian fans given the distance from Namibia to Morocco.
However, it is about time that we do the impossible in order to get the fans to travel to Morocco.
When Namibia won the Cosafa tournament in 2015 in South Africa, the Ministry of Sport organised busses for the masses that went to watch the team play.
It was an encouraging scene and that is why the players performed to the best of their capabilities.
It is time that Namibians start showing the world that we are able to travel with our team regardless of the financial circumstances that the country faces.
There are poorer countries than Namibia, but their football fans always do the impossible to travel with their teams.
If these poor nations can do it, then Namibia does not have an excuse as to why we are not able to send a large number of spectators with the team.
The team is looking very good and I feel that Mannetti is finally getting his strategy right.
After some wrote him off last year for not winning the Cosafa tournament at home, the coach has proved his worth to the nation.
The fact that the team qualified during the darkest days of Namibian football has been something remarkable.
As a nation, we owe him our support given that he will be going into a very difficult competition with Africa's top nations in January.
Fans must continue with the good behaviour they showed during the Hage Geingob Cup.
Players must also continue to make their fans happy as it will keep them coming for more games in the future.
Namibia is ours, the Brave Warriors is ours, and so let us stand behind the team.
JESSE JACKSON KAURAISA
[email protected]
The Sam Nujoma Stadium was packed to its capacity about a week ago and the red colours of the national team looked so beautiful on the pavilions.
It was one of those atmospheres that Namibian football has been yearning for.
It reminded me of the time when the Brave Warriors still had the likes of Congo Hindjou and Riccardo Mannetti as players.
The incredible support that the men and women of this country gave was something to smile about.
President Hage Geingob was so excited and energetic that he went to the extent of doing the famous 'Okamannetti'. Now that, is what we call patriotism.
It is indeed a special feeling to see Namibians standing behind their team in such large numbers.
The goalkeeper of the Brave Warriors went on to post on social media after the game that he had always dreamed of playing in front of such a large crowd.
Thanks to the Namibian people that they made the goalkeeper realise his dream.
The team played brilliant football because the spectators cheered for the team all the way.
I am almost certain that many who went to watch the team for the first time can't wait for another home game just to enjoy the electric atmosphere.
It is now up to the Namibia Football Association (NFA) to draw more people to the stadium by marketing the home matches.
I have realised that the team plays better when it has the support of its people.
It is with this that I would like the NFA to find a way in which they can get more fans to travel to the African Nations Championship (CHAN) tournament slated for Morocco in January.
I know that it is going to be expensive and remains a daunting task for many Namibian fans given the distance from Namibia to Morocco.
However, it is about time that we do the impossible in order to get the fans to travel to Morocco.
When Namibia won the Cosafa tournament in 2015 in South Africa, the Ministry of Sport organised busses for the masses that went to watch the team play.
It was an encouraging scene and that is why the players performed to the best of their capabilities.
It is time that Namibians start showing the world that we are able to travel with our team regardless of the financial circumstances that the country faces.
There are poorer countries than Namibia, but their football fans always do the impossible to travel with their teams.
If these poor nations can do it, then Namibia does not have an excuse as to why we are not able to send a large number of spectators with the team.
The team is looking very good and I feel that Mannetti is finally getting his strategy right.
After some wrote him off last year for not winning the Cosafa tournament at home, the coach has proved his worth to the nation.
The fact that the team qualified during the darkest days of Namibian football has been something remarkable.
As a nation, we owe him our support given that he will be going into a very difficult competition with Africa's top nations in January.
Fans must continue with the good behaviour they showed during the Hage Geingob Cup.
Players must also continue to make their fans happy as it will keep them coming for more games in the future.
Namibia is ours, the Brave Warriors is ours, and so let us stand behind the team.
JESSE JACKSON KAURAISA
[email protected]
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