WINDHOEK, 24 APR – Midfielder Marcel Papama said playing for the national senior football team ranks as the proudest moment in his career thus far and he cannot wait to add more appearances to his name.
The 22-year-old UNAM Football Club player made his debut in an international friendly against Swaziland in Manzini last week.
Namibia played Swaziland, also known as Sihlangu Semnikati (King’s Shield), as part of celebrations for the host nation’s 50th Independence Day and King Mswati III’s 50th birthday on Thursday. Namibia lost 0-1.
The cheerful youngster was part of coach Ricardo Mannetti’s plan of reinforcing the senior national football team with young players.
Papama, who got a surprise pick in the starting 11, paid back the coach’s belief in him as he gave a “man of the match performance” in the centre of the park.
“Playing for the senior national team requires a lot of concentration because the game is really fast and physical, compared to under-20 (U-20) and Premier League level,” he told Nampa recently.
Papama added that playing at U-20 level is like a training session.
“The tempo at senior level is really hard; at training it felt like I was in a game. I am happy to be selected in the team because I learned more during this trip to Swaziland,” he said.
The young footballer came to prominence during the 2017/18 season. A regular for Namibian premiership side UNAM, Papama’s consistency for UNAM has not gone unnoticed by the senior national team selectors, who are keen to incorporate his abundant energy and industry into their set-up.
Mannetti told this agency that the performance showed by Papama against Swaziland brings competition for Black Africa player, Dynamo Fredericks, at national team level.
“My job as a coach is to give opportunities to the deserving players and I am happy that when Papama was called on, he grabbed the opportunity with both hands. I will now have a headache when Dynamo comes back to the team as competition for that position will really be tough,” Mannetti said.
He added that his goal is to have three or more players compete for a position in the national team, as it will make the team stronger.
NAMPA
39 comments
… [Trackback]
[…] Find More Information here on that Topic: namibiadailynews.info/papama-cherishes-international-debut/ […]
… [Trackback]
[…] Find More to that Topic: namibiadailynews.info/papama-cherishes-international-debut/ […]
… [Trackback]
[…] Find More Info here on that Topic: namibiadailynews.info/papama-cherishes-international-debut/ […]
… [Trackback]
[…] Read More Info here to that Topic: namibiadailynews.info/papama-cherishes-international-debut/ […]
… [Trackback]
[…] Find More to that Topic: namibiadailynews.info/papama-cherishes-international-debut/ […]
… [Trackback]
[…] Info to that Topic: namibiadailynews.info/papama-cherishes-international-debut/ […]
… [Trackback]
[…] Find More Information here on that Topic: namibiadailynews.info/papama-cherishes-international-debut/ […]
… [Trackback]
[…] Here you can find 27915 more Information on that Topic: namibiadailynews.info/papama-cherishes-international-debut/ […]
… [Trackback]
[…] There you will find 24976 additional Info to that Topic: namibiadailynews.info/papama-cherishes-international-debut/ […]
… [Trackback]
[…] Read More here to that Topic: namibiadailynews.info/papama-cherishes-international-debut/ […]
… [Trackback]
[…] Find More here on that Topic: namibiadailynews.info/papama-cherishes-international-debut/ […]
… [Trackback]
[…] Read More Information here to that Topic: namibiadailynews.info/papama-cherishes-international-debut/ […]
… [Trackback]
[…] Read More Information here on that Topic: namibiadailynews.info/papama-cherishes-international-debut/ […]
… [Trackback]
[…] Read More here on that Topic: namibiadailynews.info/papama-cherishes-international-debut/ […]
… [Trackback]
[…] Read More here on that Topic: namibiadailynews.info/papama-cherishes-international-debut/ […]
… [Trackback]
[…] Here you will find 48413 more Information to that Topic: namibiadailynews.info/papama-cherishes-international-debut/ […]
… [Trackback]
[…] Find More to that Topic: namibiadailynews.info/papama-cherishes-international-debut/ […]
… [Trackback]
[…] Information on that Topic: namibiadailynews.info/papama-cherishes-international-debut/ […]
… [Trackback]
[…] Find More Info here to that Topic: namibiadailynews.info/papama-cherishes-international-debut/ […]
… [Trackback]
[…] Find More here on that Topic: namibiadailynews.info/papama-cherishes-international-debut/ […]
… [Trackback]
[…] There you will find 40096 more Information to that Topic: namibiadailynews.info/papama-cherishes-international-debut/ […]
… [Trackback]
[…] Read More here to that Topic: namibiadailynews.info/papama-cherishes-international-debut/ […]
… [Trackback]
[…] Information to that Topic: namibiadailynews.info/papama-cherishes-international-debut/ […]
… [Trackback]
[…] Here you will find 38192 more Info to that Topic: namibiadailynews.info/papama-cherishes-international-debut/ […]
… [Trackback]
[…] Find More on to that Topic: namibiadailynews.info/papama-cherishes-international-debut/ […]
… [Trackback]
[…] Find More Information here on that Topic: namibiadailynews.info/papama-cherishes-international-debut/ […]
… [Trackback]
[…] Find More on to that Topic: namibiadailynews.info/papama-cherishes-international-debut/ […]
… [Trackback]
[…] There you will find 18619 more Info on that Topic: namibiadailynews.info/papama-cherishes-international-debut/ […]
… [Trackback]
[…] Here you can find 84266 additional Info on that Topic: namibiadailynews.info/papama-cherishes-international-debut/ […]
… [Trackback]
[…] Information to that Topic: namibiadailynews.info/papama-cherishes-international-debut/ […]
… [Trackback]
[…] Find More on that Topic: namibiadailynews.info/papama-cherishes-international-debut/ […]
… [Trackback]
[…] Read More on that Topic: namibiadailynews.info/papama-cherishes-international-debut/ […]
… [Trackback]
[…] Here you will find 79723 additional Information to that Topic: namibiadailynews.info/papama-cherishes-international-debut/ […]
… [Trackback]
[…] Info on that Topic: namibiadailynews.info/papama-cherishes-international-debut/ […]
… [Trackback]
[…] Info to that Topic: namibiadailynews.info/papama-cherishes-international-debut/ […]
… [Trackback]
[…] Read More on that Topic: namibiadailynews.info/papama-cherishes-international-debut/ […]
… [Trackback]
[…] Find More on that Topic: namibiadailynews.info/papama-cherishes-international-debut/ […]
… [Trackback]
[…] Find More to that Topic: namibiadailynews.info/papama-cherishes-international-debut/ […]
… [Trackback]
[…] Read More here to that Topic: namibiadailynews.info/papama-cherishes-international-debut/ […]