Dream team preparing for Under-23 Afcon qualifiers against Angola

REHOBOTH, 26 OCT – The national Under-23 side has been in camp for the past two weeks, preparing for their African Cup of Nations (Afcon) 2019 U-23 qualifying match against Angola next month.
Namibia will visit Angola on 16 November before hosting them on 20 November at the Sam Nujoma Stadium in the first round of the qualifiers. Brave Warriors assistant coach Ronnie Kanalelo is tasked with guiding the side past the Angolans.
A statement availed to Nampa on Thursday said the team has 34 players in camp, while two are busy with their examinations after which they will join the rest of the squad on Friday.
“Petrus Kamati and Hubert Mingeri are busy with their exams and will be joining camp on Friday, whereas Yasseen Davids is on trials in the UK and is expected to join the rest by latest Monday,” team manager Erastus Someno was quoted as saying.
Someno said the players’ fitness is gradually improving and he is especially pleased with having different objectives for each training session.
They have been working on passing drills and endurance and are looking forward to polishing game situations and patterns before facing Angola.
The winner between Angola and Namibia will face South Africa in the second round and in the third round, they await the winner of Zimbabwe against either eSwatini or Mozambique for a place at Egypt 2019.
The training squad consists of 37 players and the list will be trimmed down to 25 players by Friday, with 20 players guaranteed to travel, while five will be shortlisted.
The technical team consists of head coach Ronnie Kanalelo; first assistant coach Quentin Visagie and second assistant Coach Collin Benjamin.
Namibian football’s 2020 Olympics dream lies with the Under-23 team. Their road to the Olympics has to start by negotiating past the continental hopefuls, with seven spots available for the eight-team tournament to be held in Egypt from 08 to 22 November 2019.
The tournament in Egypt will see the top three teams qualifying automatically for the 2020 Olympic Games. The fourth-place finisher plays in a play-off against a team from the Asian Football Confederation.
The players in camp are Wisely Kauua, Macaulay Tsandib, Ndilinaye Kamati, Megameno Petrus, Amenenge Abel, Uetuuru Kambato, Giovanni Nauseb, Tani-Tani Berline, Yasseen Davids, Shikongo Lihongeni, Hubert Mingeri, Ngajozikue Kasume, Anthony Kham, Romario Hawiseb, Pombili Haukongo, Calvin Spiegel, Sergio Festus, Kennedy /Eib, Brandon #Neibeb, Jombie Paulino, Hiha Katjivena, Uzuva-Vipua Tjimune, Mutambande Mungendje, Jandjamuje Maharero, Khitago Leonard, Clive Reginald, Evans Kufanga, Bruzaine Kotungondo, Bonifatius Paulino, Venovineya Tjikundi, Mervin Kasetura, Micheal Kamuserandu, Givone Boois, Rivaldo Laksmann, Paul Kotjipati, Linus Hangula, Peter Nampolo and McCartney Naweseb.
(NAMPA)