Maova gets Brave Warriors call-up

WINDHOEK-HECTOR MAWONGA Under-20 national team goalkeeper, Edward Maova, has been included in the Brave Warriors squad from which the team will be chosen to face Zambia at the Sam Nujoma Stadium on Saturday. Maova, who plays for Rundu Chiefs, is one of three goalkeepers called up for the game, with the others being the South African-based duo of Efraim Tjihonge and Virgil Vries. The youngster has seemingly been rewarded for his excellent form this season. He has captained Chiefs in their bid to avoid relegation from the Namibia Premier League (NPL). He takes the place of Black Africa's goalkeeper, Arnold Subeb, who was part of the squad called up to do duty against Malawi in March this year. The squad was announced at the NFA's Soccer House yesterday and is new coach Roger Palmgren's first Brave Warriors call-up. Speaking at the announcement, Palmgren said that while the squad is based on the six matches I have seen myself , the majority of the players were selected upon the recommendation of the technical team. The base of the team is from the technical team, because they have a better knowledge of the players at this stage, he said. The coach added that while the squad is for the Zambia friendly, some of the players will be retained for the away clash against Malawi on June 5 and the June 12 home fixture against Nigeria, both of which are 2014 World Cup qualifier matches. Familiar faces Maova is one only of two players included that are playing for local clubs outside of the capital, with Mighty Gunners' Harold Ochurub, who is currently leading the NPL scoring charts, being the other. There were also a number of players making a return to the national team set-up, with the likes of Benson Shilongo, Chris Katjiukua, Marco van Wyk, Roger Katjiteo, Denis Ngueza, Johannes Seibeb Bradley Wermann and Freedom Puriza also being called up. African Stars and Black Africa are the most represented in the squad (six players each),while Tigers have four representatives and Ramblers provide two. Civics, Rundu Chiefs and Mighty Gunners each have one player in the squad with the rest consisting of foreign-based players. The players have to report at the NFA Soccer House today at 18:00. 27-man squad Goalkeepers: Efraim Tjihonge, Virgil Vries and Edward Maova Defenders: Willem Mwedihanga, Larry Horaeb, Chris Katjiukua, Da Costa Angula, Denzil Haoseb, Annanias Gebhardt, Denis Ngueza, Freedom Puriza and Emilio Martin. Midfielders: Willy Stephanus, Johannes Seibeb, Petrus Shitembi, Bryan Bantam, Neville Tjiueza, Heinrich Isaacks and Deon Hotto. Strikers: Bradley Wermann, Marko van Wyk, Pineas Jacob, Sadney Urikhob, Harold Ochurub, Panduleni Nekundi, Benson Shilongo and Roger Katjiteo.