Mannetti spreads net wider

National football team coach Ricardo Mannetti on Tuesday named a 26-man squad for a training camp ahead of Namibia’s international friendly with Ghana next Saturday, January 4, 2014. While the coach has largely stuck with the regular players, there were some new faces called up as reward for their recent good form. These new faces include two wingbacks, Tigers’ Treasure Kauapirura and Black Africa’s Petrus Gideon. Kauapirura is a hard-running right back who regularly joins the attacking fray while Gideon, who was the captain of Hotspurs prior to joining Black Africa, is a solid defensive player with a sweet left foot. It seems both were called up to give the coach more options in those areas with regular right back, Larry Horaeb, who plays for AmaZulu in South Africa, still out with injury. It is also well documented that the coach has been looking for a candidate to give regular left back Freedom Puriza some competition. Another notable call-up is that of Orlando Pirates’ striker Theophilus ‘Ronaldo’ Tsowaseb, who has the impressive habit of scoring goals when the chips are down for his team. The striker is also highly regarded on the local scene as he possesses many attributes usually associated with top quality forwards. Tsowaseb can shoot powerfully with both feet while his heading ability is quite impressive. But the biggest question mark over the player has always been whether he can keep the same form over an extended period. The player is one of two other ‘new’ call-ups in the striking department with Mannetti recalling Tigers’ Panduleni ‘Kaka’ Nekundi and Blue Waters’ Hendrik ‘Ballack’ Somaeb to the national team set-up. Nekundi was part of the team called up prior to the Championship of African Nations (CHAN) qualifier matches against Mozambique in September but the striker didn’t make the Brave Warriors squads for subsequent matches. Somaeb, meanwhile, has overcome injury and a loss of form to once again feature among the national players. The striker-cum-winger has scored a number of goals for his team this season. All in all, Black Africa remains the biggest contributor of players with seven, while Tigers and African Stars have five representatives each. AmaZulu provides three players while Pirates have two with Civics, Blue Waters, Maritzburg United (in South Africa) and Tura Magic all having one representative each. The players are requested to report at the Namibia Football Association (NFA) Football House at 08:00 tomorrow morning. Full squad Goalkeepers: Athiel Mbaha (African Stars), Lloyd Kazapua (Tigers) and Edward Maova (Civics). Defenders: Da Costa Angula (Black Africa), Emilio Martin (Black Africa), Chris Katjiukua (African Stars), Dennis Tjetjinda (African Stars), Treasure Kauapirura (Tigers), Pekka Hamukwaya (Tigers), Petrus Gideon (Black Africa) and Freedom Puriza (African Stars). Midfielders: Denzil Haoseb (Black Africa), Willy Stephanus (Black Africa), Neville Tjiueza (Tura Magic), Bryan Bantam (Black Africa), Deon Hotto (African Stars), Heini Isaacks (Maritzburg United, South Africa), Simon Shikokola (Tigers), Petrus Shitembi (AmaZulu, South Africa) and Stanley Kameseipo (Orlando Pirates). Strikers: Sadney Urikhob (AmaZulu, South Africa), Pineas Jacob (AmaZulu, South Africa), Panduleni Nekundi (Tigers), Roger Katjiteo (Black Africa), Theophilus Tsowaseb (Orlando Pirates), and Hendrik Somaeb (Blue Waters).