NFA recalls outcast Samaria for now

JESSE JACKSON KAURAISAWINDHOEKThe Namibia Football Association (NFA) will allegedly still advertise the national football team coaching post even though they agreed to keep current coach Bobby Samaria on for the next three to four months, a source claims.Namibian Sun last month reported that the football association had decided not to permanently appoint Samaria after two years of acting as head coach.The fact that Samaria had not succeeded in leading the team to the Africa Cup of Nations is said to have influenced the NFA decision.Namibian Sun also understands that the football association had plans to replace Samaria after his contract ended in March, but decided to extend his stay for a few more months because of the world cup qualifiers in June.“The association has decided to keep Samaria just for these two months given that the team has important clashes that are coming up in the world cup qualifiers.“It will just be logical that he is kept there until the position is advertised.“As for now, the NFA has decided not to rush a decision of bringing in a new coach as they believe it would not change or improve anything ahead of the top clash,” a source in the NFA said.Sources added that Samaria has not yet agreed to continue in the interim.NFA secretary-general Franco Cosmos said the association would only pronounce itself once the decision was made.“There is nothing I can tell you at the moment until the decision is made and the parties of interest are informed,” Cosmos said.There is speculation that Samaria could turn his fortunes around and secure the job on a permanent basis provided that he wins his next two matches.Already seen at most of the Namibia Premier Football League matches, Samaria is thought to have a team in mind that he wants to select for the important world cup qualifiers.Namibia have been drawn against Senegal, Congo and Togo, with only the group winners set to qualify to the world cup.The team will begin their world cup assignment on 8 June against Congo, before visiting Togo a week later, from 11 to 15 June.The qualifiers will resume in September and the Warriors will visit group favourites Senegal from 1 to 4 September and then host them from 5 to 9 September.The national team will then visit Congo between 6 and 9 October and return home to host Togo between 11 and 12 October.In 2020, the exco decided to keep the coaches and technical staff of the men's senior national team, the Brave Warriors, until the end of March 2021.Since Ricardo Mannetti' s departure in 2019, the Brave Warriors have not had a substantial coach.Samaria is one of the most successful coaches in Namibian football, having won several league titles and knockout competitions.

NFA recalls outcast Samaria for now

Comments

Namibian Sun 2026-09-29

Please login to leave a comment

NFA recalls outcast Samaria for now

Comments

Namibian Sun 2026-09-29

Please login to leave a comment

Subscription Required to Access Content ×

Login

Subscription Required to Access Content