Warriors gearing up for Ghana test

The players who are part of the Brave Warriors squad called up for an international friendly against Ghana on Saturday are settling in well in the training camp that started over the weekend. This is according to the national team coach, Ricardo Mannetti, who reported yesterday that all 26 players had made it to camp. “Everyone is in camp and only Junior [Simon Shikokola] is being assessed for an injury,” the coach said. With Saturday’s match falling on a date outside of FIFA’s allocation for international matches, Mannetti has had to call upon other players to represent Namibia. Among those not available for selection because of that are the Thailand-based duo of Lazarus Kaimbi and Tangeni Shipahu, and Jerome Louis, who plays for Township Rollers in Botswana. Injury has also prevented the coach to call up the likes of Platinum Stars’ Henrico Botes (groin), AmaZulu’s Larry Horaeb (recently returned from muscle strain) and Willem Mwedihanga (chronic ankle problem) and Golden Arrows’ Rudolf Bester, who is only due to return to action early next year. Regular Brave Warriors captain Ronald Ketjijere has been rested upon request from his club, University of Pretoria. But despite missing all these regulars, Mannetti says that the situation could be “a blessing in disguise”. “It is up to the new boys to show that they are of international quality because I will be looking at how they conduct themselves during camp,” he said. “This game will also give me the chance to look at alternate combinations because my plan as a coach is to work towards getting the team ready for the 2015 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers and the Cosafa Cup next year,” he said. WINDHOEK-HECTOR MAWONGA