Warriors aim to tame Zebras on Sunday
It's all systems go for the clash between the Brave Warriors and the Zebras of Botswana on Sunday in Gaborone.
The Brave Warriors were invited to play the international friendly as part of Botswana's 52nd Independence Day celebrations.
The match will serve as a fitness test and give senior local players some much-needed game time ahead of their home and away 2019 African Cup of Nations (Afcon) Group K qualifiers against Mozambique between 13 and 16 October.
Some under-23 national team players have been included in the Warriors squad.
“Their involvement is merely for exposure and training purposes; the senior players will play 80% of the 90-minute game time, provided no serious injuries occur,” Brave Warriors mentor Ricardo Mannetti said.
He added that winning was not a priority, but that match fitness will be the focal point.
In a recent interview Mannetti said the Botswana clash will be their only friendly before facing Mozambique.
“We, however, plan on setting up camp in South Africa hereafter, because it's much easier to get most of the players to either Johannesburg or Pretoria, in preparation for our away match.”
Mannetti also admitted there have been complaints about the team not having match fit players, so in order to qualify for Afcon 2019, he believes in putting fitness first.
This is especially so, because he wants to narrow the gap between locally-based players and those who ply their trade in other countries, where there are active premier and other leagues.
The Namibian squad: Ratanda Mbazuvara, Vipua Tjimune, Charles Hambira, Emilio Martin, Larry Horaeb, Vitapi Ngaruka, Lubeni Haukongo, Aprocious Petrus, Ronald Ketjijere, Dynamo Fredericks, Marcel Papama, Immanuel Heita, Absalom Iimbondi, Hiha Katjivena, Petrus Shitembi Muna Katupose and Sadney Urikhob.
LIMBA MUPETAMI
The Brave Warriors were invited to play the international friendly as part of Botswana's 52nd Independence Day celebrations.
The match will serve as a fitness test and give senior local players some much-needed game time ahead of their home and away 2019 African Cup of Nations (Afcon) Group K qualifiers against Mozambique between 13 and 16 October.
Some under-23 national team players have been included in the Warriors squad.
“Their involvement is merely for exposure and training purposes; the senior players will play 80% of the 90-minute game time, provided no serious injuries occur,” Brave Warriors mentor Ricardo Mannetti said.
He added that winning was not a priority, but that match fitness will be the focal point.
In a recent interview Mannetti said the Botswana clash will be their only friendly before facing Mozambique.
“We, however, plan on setting up camp in South Africa hereafter, because it's much easier to get most of the players to either Johannesburg or Pretoria, in preparation for our away match.”
Mannetti also admitted there have been complaints about the team not having match fit players, so in order to qualify for Afcon 2019, he believes in putting fitness first.
This is especially so, because he wants to narrow the gap between locally-based players and those who ply their trade in other countries, where there are active premier and other leagues.
The Namibian squad: Ratanda Mbazuvara, Vipua Tjimune, Charles Hambira, Emilio Martin, Larry Horaeb, Vitapi Ngaruka, Lubeni Haukongo, Aprocious Petrus, Ronald Ketjijere, Dynamo Fredericks, Marcel Papama, Immanuel Heita, Absalom Iimbondi, Hiha Katjivena, Petrus Shitembi Muna Katupose and Sadney Urikhob.
LIMBA MUPETAMI
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