New look Namibia squad to face Kenya named

By Ibra Khadudu

The 18 man Namibian squad to face Kenya this coming Saturday has been named.

New coach of the Brave Warriors Tom Saintfiet released the list on Sunday discarding a huge chunk of the initial 33 man list largely made up of local based players.

Saintfiet himself is one of the several changes in the squad having replaced fired Arie Schans, the coach who led the Brave Warriors over Kenya in Nairobi.

The final squad includes close to 10 South African based players as well as German based duo of Collin Benjamin and Wilko Risser who play for Hamburg Sv and Eintracht Fc respectively.

Oliver Risser who scored the first goal against Kenya in the first qualifier in Windhoek on May 31st is in the squad. With Risser, Attiel Mbaha, Richard Gariseb, Quinton Jacobs and Lazarus Kaimbi are the only five survivors of the triumphant squad over Kenya.

Coach Saintfiet has however left out Costa Kaiseb the man who scored an 89th minute goal that sunk and embarrassed Kenya in that game that ended 2-1. Jeremiah Baisako, Hartman Toromba, Maleagi Ngarizemo, Michael Piennar and Brian Brendell who were part of the winning squad as well as subs Efraim Tjihonge, Tuegela Tuyeni, Jacob Pineas and Rudolph Bester will also not be visiting Nairobi when the Namibian team jets in today.

Since beating Kenya, Namibia has gone three games without a win after loosing the next three games to Zimbabwe (twice) and to Guinea.

On the other hand, Kenya has neither lost nor conceded a goal since jetting out of Windhoek. Kenya beat both Guinea and Zimbabwe with identical 2-0 wins and drew 0-0 with Zimbabwe in the last game. Kenya is second in Group 2 tied with Guinea on seven points while Namibia is rock bottom at fourth with three points. Zimbabwe are third on five points.

Complete Squad

Goalkeepers: Athiel Mbaha (Maritzburg United, SA), Abisai 'Zico' Shanin Gayamwe (Jomo Cosmos, SA)

Defenders: George Hummel (Jomo Cosmos, SA), Steven Goagab (Carara Kicks), Ivan Namaseb (Fc Ak, SA), Hartmann Toromba (Free State Stars, SA) & Richard Gariseb (Bidvest Wits, SA)

Midfielders: Quinton Jacobs (Jomo Cosmos, SA), Paulus Shipanga (Bay United Fc), Rudi Louw (Unattached), Sidney Plaatjies (Mamelodi Sundowns, SA) & Levis 'Meraai' Swatrbooi (Primero Da Agosto, Angola), Oliver Risser (Cloppenburg) & Lazarus Kaimbi (Jomo Cosmos, SA)

Strikers: Collin Benjamin - pictured (Hamburg Sv, Germany), Wilko Risser (Eintracht Fc, Germany), Costa Khaiseb (Fc Ak, SA) & Rudolf Bester (Cukaricki)