Senior national football team coach, Collin Benjamin has called on players to be in their best shape when reporting for duty to avoid being released from the national team.
Benjamin made the call while announcing a provisional 43-man squad here on Monday.
The Brave Warriors are scheduled to play an international friendly match against South Africa’s Bafana Bafana in Johannesburg on 09 September 2023.
The national team head coach said the squad he called up will start training next Tuesday, and urged players to report for training in the shape they were in a month ago.
“We did fitness training and measurement on the players before they left the national team and we are therefore looking forward to seeing them back in the same shape, if not better,” said Benjamin, who warned that any player whose body is in a condition that is not satisfactory to the national team coaches, will be released immediately.
He added that he is happy to see the return of Ronald Ketjijere, the former national team skipper who retired a couple of years ago.
“Having Ketjijere in the national team will help with the guidance of young players as he is at the moment one of the most accomplished and dedicated players we have in the country,” he said.
Apart from Ketjijere, the coach also recalled Petrus Shitembi to the national team, as well as four first-division players – Alfeus Leevi, Mervin Kasetura, Erasmus Ikeinge, and Utjevera Rukata – who received their first call-up to the national team.
The provisional squad is as follows:
Goalkeepers – Loydt Kazapua, Kamaijanda Ndisiro, Jonas Mateus, Mervin Kasetura and Immanuel Immanuel.
Defenders – Ryan Nyambe, Ivan Kamberipa, Erasmus Ikeinge, Kennedy Amutenya, Charles Hambira, Given Mutuezu, Denzel Haoseb, Utjevera Rukata, Annanias Gebhardt, Riaan Hanamub, Tuli Nashixwa, Aprocius Petrus and Brandon Neibeb.
Midfielders – Reverend Matroos, Devin Somseb, Ngero Kaanjuka, Paulus Amutenya, Ronald Ketjijere, Uetuura Kambato, Lawrence Doeseb, Dynamo Fredericks, Marcel Papama and Prins Tjiueza.
Forwards – Absalom Iimbondi, Joslin Kamatuka, Peter Shalulile, Betheul Muzeu, Alfeus Leev, Romeo Kasume, Deon Hotto, Wendell Rudath, Edmar Kamatuka, Erwin Tjiuja, Eliakim Jaddson, Petrus Shitembi, Tjipenandjambi Karuuombe, Simon Elago and Nehemia Ndengu.
Source: The Namibian Press Agency