2009 in Review – The Brave Warriors

Courtesy of www.namibiasport.com.na

Namibia’s Brave Warriors started the year ranked at 115 in the world and ended it at 114 in the world. Although there didn’t seem to be much change, they year saw some wild fluctuations, as they dropped to a low of 128 before shooting up to a high of 101 in the world. In the process they went on an unbeaten run of six matches before losing to Zambia in October.

In March Namibia drew 0-0 against Botswana, 1-1 away to Lebanon and 0-0 away to Angola. In June Namibia gave their best performance, thrashing DR Congo 4-0 in Windhoek, before they drew 1-1 against Swaziland in September.

In October, Namibia beat a SA Development team 2-1 in an unofficial friendly international before they lost 1-0 to Zambia in the Cosafa Cup competition. It was their first defeat since September 2008 when Namibia lost 1-0 to Kenya in a World Cup qualifier.

When Namibia beat the DR Congo 4-0 in June with a fantastic display of attacking soccer, their FIFA ranking shot up to 101 in the world. It was their highest ranking in more than 10 years and saw them on the verge of breaking through the Top 100 mark.

Namibia’s strong move up the rankings also saw their regional and continental ranking improve. At that stage they were ranked 26th in Africa and fifth in the SADC region. Only South Africa, Zambia, Mozambique and Angola were ranked above them, while Namibia had overtaken former powerhouses like Kenya, Malawi, DR Congo and Zimbabwe.

Unfortunately Namibia could not match this display as they stumbled to an unconvincing 1-1 draw at home against Swaziland in September.

Namibia’s biggest test came in October when they were drawn against Zambia in the first round of the Cosafa Cup competition. With a bit of luck and some excellent goalkeeping by Athiel Mbaha, Namibia managed to keep Zambia at bay for most of the match, before Stoppila Sunzu scored Zambia’s winner with four minutes remaining.

These results (especially the home match against Swaziland, who were then ranked at 150 in the world) dented Namibia’s ascent on the rankings and they ended the year at 115 in the world, having slipped down to eighth in the SADC region and 33rd in Africa.

Kenya (68 in the world), the DR Congo (91), Zimbabwe (97) and Malawi (104) all moved past Namibia on FIFA’s world rankings.

Brave Warriors coach Tom Saintfiet came in for some criticism for his defensive tactics after the Zambia defeat, but under Saintfiet, the Brave Warriors have had their most successful run in more than a decade. Since he took over as national coach in July 2008, the Brave Warriors have built up an impressive record of four victories, five draws and two defeats in 11 official matches. Besides that they also played two unofficial matches against a South African Development team, losing 1-0 in July 2008 and winning 2-1 in October 2009.

Saintfiet has built up a strong and settled squad with a lot of depth, which is well represented by both local and foreign based players. During 2009 he made use of 33 players (two goalkeepers, 10 defenders, 14 midfielders and 7 strikers).

His most consistent players were goalkeeper Athiel Mbaha and midfielder Quinton Jacobs who each played in six out of seven matches and defensive midfielder Ninja Karongee, who played in five matches.

Especially Jacobs’ career has flourished since Saintfiet recalled him to the national team. He has been one of Namibia’s top performers throughout the year and captained the Brave Warriors in most of their matches.

Another player that Saintfiet recalled was Turkish based Razundara Tjikuzu, who’s performance against Swaziland was one of the few highlights of that match.

Along with other established players like Oliver and Wilko Risser, Rudolph Bester, Hartman Toromba, George Hummel, Richard Gariseb and Collin Benjamin, Paulus Shipanga and Sydney Plaatjies, home based players like Virgil Vries, Romanus Shilongo, Edward Asino, Nelson Geingob, Gunther von Hundelshausen, Ralph Ellinger, Eslin Kamuhanga, Rudi Louw, Meraai Swartbooi, Muna Katupose, Jerome Louis and Tangeni Shipahu have also come through, showing a lot of promise.

Namibia’s first official matches in 2010 will be in thre CHAN competition against the Seychelles, home and away, in March. With this squad and Namibia’s steady rise, a victory and progress to the next round of this competition for home based African players can be expected.

APRIL

Brave Warriors remain unbeaten

The Brave Warriors remained unbeaten after drawing three international matches within 14 days.
On March 21, a local-based Namibian team drew 0-0 against Botswana in Keetmanshoop in a match that formed part of Namibia’s Independence Celebrations.
On April 1, coach Tom Saintfiet called up Namibia’s foreign-based professionals for a friendly against Lebanon in Beirut which they drew 1-all, and then three days later a travel-weary team gave a brilliant performance to hold Angola to a 0-0 draw in the northern Angolan town of Dundo.

JUNE

Namibia stun DRC

The Brave Warriors gave a scintillating display to beat the DR Congo 4-0 in a friendly soccer match at Windhoek’s Independence Stadium. Quinton Jacobs gave Namibia a 1-0 lead at halftime while second half goals by Rudolph Bester and a brace by substitute Heini Isaacs completed an emphatic victory.

SEPTEMBER

Brave Warriors, Swaziland draw

Namibia wasted numerous scoring opportunities before settling for a 1-1 draw against Swaziland in an international football friendly match at the Sam Nujoma Stadium.
Namibia started like a house on fire, creating numerous scoring opportunities, but their strikers missed at least five clear-cut chances in the first half alone.
Namibia’s pressure finally paid off on 30 minutes when Sydney Plaatjies split Swaziland’s defence with a great throughball to Rudolph Bester who slotted the ball into an empty net. Swaziland however equalised four minutes later, from a freekick, when their captain Mxolisi Mtetwa rose unmarked to head the ball in at the near post.

OCTOBER

Zambia beat Namibia in thriller

Namibia’s Brave Warriors were dumped out of the Cosafa Senior Challenge after losing 1-0 to Zambia in a thrilling match at the Rufaro Stadium in Harare.
With only four minutes remaining, Zambian midfielder Stoppila Sunzu pounced onto a defensive error to slam the loose ball into the net. It was the Brave Warriors’ first defeat since their 1-0 loss to Kenya in September 2008.