Katjiukua now at Highlands Park
Brave Warriors player Chris Katjiukua is determined to give his best at Highlands Park, where he recently signed a contract.
After being released from South African outfit Golden Arrows last month, Namibian footballer Chris Katjiukua has found a new home in the PSL.
Katjiukua now joins his countryman Peter Shalulile at Highlands Park on a two-and-a-half-season contract.
Speaking to Namibian Sun recently, Katjiukua said he was optimistic that something great was on the way after being released by Arrows.
“It was not a bad decision from the club to release me because I didn't have game time so there was no need for them to keep me and I was relieved too because I was frustrated,” he said.
He said now that he had secured a new home, he had big dreams for his new team.
“My dream is to put the team in the top eight this season and compete for the title next season, because I was not signed to add numbers but to help the team and add value.
“I want to play each and every game and I will show at every training session that I'm hungry for this,” he said.
Recalling how he landed the deal, Katjiukua said it was just a matter of time before he secured a new club, because his CV as a professional footballer attested to any coach who he was.
“After being released by Arrows I remained calm and said, thank God, this is my time. I received an unknown call and it was the mayor of Okahandja, Congo Hindjou, who told me that he wanted to send me to Bloemfontein Celtics, but I asked if I could revert to him a little later.
“The same day I received a call from Cape Town City and immediately I called Hindjou to let him know about the call from City and that he must wait a bit because I wanted all my papers from Golden Arrows to be on the safe side.
“On 28 January I received a surprise call from a former Bafana Bafana coach Gordon Igesund saying that he was interested me, as he had got a lot of information from my countryman Peter Shalulile and via my CV everything was easy for me to pen a deal.”
Katjiukua was with Arrows for three and a half seasons.
Brave Warriors coach Ricardo Mannetti described Katjiukua as great central defender and said it was a pity that he was deemed surplus to requirements at Arrows.
“He was a good servant of the club but in football nothing is predictable and so he had to move on. I'm glad he found a club and he remains key to our 2019 Afcon qualification goal,” said Mannetti.
He expressed confidence that Katjiukua would get game time at the PSL strugglers Highlands Park. “For Gordon (Igesund) to sign him midseason means a lot. He can add value to the new team and he can help the team avoid the drop. He is so great reader of the game.”
Meanwhile, CAF has announced the draw for the 2018 African Nations Championship (CHAN). The Brave Warriors will play Zimbabwe in the second round, with the winner to face either Lesotho or Comoros in the road to Kenya 2018.
The Brave Warriors will host Zimbabwe's locally based players in the second round of qualifiers on the weekend of 15-16 July, and the second leg in Zimbabwe will be played between 21-23 July.
“We have to up our preparations from the previous times because our players are not active. Intense training will make the situation better. We have to do things out of the box with our training plan and I can only hope for uncompromised support from all stakeholders in this regard,” said Mannetti on the CHAN qualifiers.
The fifth edition of the CHAN tournament will be held in Kenya between 11 January and 2 February 2018. - additional reporting NFA
KAINO NGHITONGO
Katjiukua now joins his countryman Peter Shalulile at Highlands Park on a two-and-a-half-season contract.
Speaking to Namibian Sun recently, Katjiukua said he was optimistic that something great was on the way after being released by Arrows.
“It was not a bad decision from the club to release me because I didn't have game time so there was no need for them to keep me and I was relieved too because I was frustrated,” he said.
He said now that he had secured a new home, he had big dreams for his new team.
“My dream is to put the team in the top eight this season and compete for the title next season, because I was not signed to add numbers but to help the team and add value.
“I want to play each and every game and I will show at every training session that I'm hungry for this,” he said.
Recalling how he landed the deal, Katjiukua said it was just a matter of time before he secured a new club, because his CV as a professional footballer attested to any coach who he was.
“After being released by Arrows I remained calm and said, thank God, this is my time. I received an unknown call and it was the mayor of Okahandja, Congo Hindjou, who told me that he wanted to send me to Bloemfontein Celtics, but I asked if I could revert to him a little later.
“The same day I received a call from Cape Town City and immediately I called Hindjou to let him know about the call from City and that he must wait a bit because I wanted all my papers from Golden Arrows to be on the safe side.
“On 28 January I received a surprise call from a former Bafana Bafana coach Gordon Igesund saying that he was interested me, as he had got a lot of information from my countryman Peter Shalulile and via my CV everything was easy for me to pen a deal.”
Katjiukua was with Arrows for three and a half seasons.
Brave Warriors coach Ricardo Mannetti described Katjiukua as great central defender and said it was a pity that he was deemed surplus to requirements at Arrows.
“He was a good servant of the club but in football nothing is predictable and so he had to move on. I'm glad he found a club and he remains key to our 2019 Afcon qualification goal,” said Mannetti.
He expressed confidence that Katjiukua would get game time at the PSL strugglers Highlands Park. “For Gordon (Igesund) to sign him midseason means a lot. He can add value to the new team and he can help the team avoid the drop. He is so great reader of the game.”
Meanwhile, CAF has announced the draw for the 2018 African Nations Championship (CHAN). The Brave Warriors will play Zimbabwe in the second round, with the winner to face either Lesotho or Comoros in the road to Kenya 2018.
The Brave Warriors will host Zimbabwe's locally based players in the second round of qualifiers on the weekend of 15-16 July, and the second leg in Zimbabwe will be played between 21-23 July.
“We have to up our preparations from the previous times because our players are not active. Intense training will make the situation better. We have to do things out of the box with our training plan and I can only hope for uncompromised support from all stakeholders in this regard,” said Mannetti on the CHAN qualifiers.
The fifth edition of the CHAN tournament will be held in Kenya between 11 January and 2 February 2018. - additional reporting NFA
KAINO NGHITONGO
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