Fifty players called up for CHAN qualifiers

Fifty local based players have been called up for a training camp in preparation for Namibia’s African Championship (CHAN) qualifying matches at home and away against the Seychelles in March.

The CHAN competition was first introduced in 2008 and is limited to local-based players on the African continent. Namibia failed to reach the finals after it lost on aggregate home and away to Zimbabwe in the qualifying stages. The DR Congo went on to win the inaugural title in March 2009 when it beat Ghana 2-0 in the finals in the Ivory Coast.

The second edition of the CHAN competition kicks off in March 2010, with Namibia drawn to play the Seychelles in the qualifying rounds of the tournament. The first leg will be held in Seychelles on March 13, while the return leg will take place in Windhoek on March 27.

If Namibia beats the Seychelles they will face the winner between Swaziland and Zimbabwe for a place at the CHAN finals which will be staged in Sudan.

Saintfiet said the squad of 50 will be divided into two groups of 25 each which will be involved in trials at the Sam Nujoma Stadium from February 15 to 17. After that the squad will be trimmed down to 25 players.

Saintfiet recalled African Stars goalkeeper Max Mbaeva and midfielder Jamu Ngatjizeko, after an absence of more than a year due to disciplinary reasons, saying ‘the time is ready for their recall and they deserve to be in the Brave Warriors squad.’

He also called up three first division players in Neville Tjiueza of Tura Magic, Jordan Haimbili of Blue Boys and Matin Kambungu of Swakopmund FC.

“Neville has captained Namibia at Under 17 level and is an interesting player for the future. Martin is a strong and physical midfielder who was called up for last year’s Cosafa Cup squad but could not make it due to work commitments. Jordan is a winger who made a good impression on assistant coach Ronnie Kanalelo,” he said.

Numerous new players who have been in fine form in the Premier League have been called up for the first time. They include Pat Uanivi of African Stars, Ivan Makina of Orlando Pirates, Sheldon du Plessis of SKW, Willem Mwedihanga of Tigers, Horst Eichhoff of SKW, Alfred Shimuma of United Stars, Ronald Ketjijere of African Stars, Gustav Isaak of SKW and Roger Katjiteo of Black Africa.

The full list of 50 players is as follows:

1. Virgil Vries Eleven Arrows FC
2. Attiel Mbaha Orlando Pirates FC
3. Ephraim Tjihonge Civics FC
4. Arnold Subeb Black Africa FC
5. Helmuth Maletsky Ramblers FC
6. Max Mbaeva African Stars FC
7. George Hummel Eleven Arrows FC
8. Ralph Ellinger SKW FC
9. Gunter Knott SKW FC
10. Pat- Nevine Uanivi African Stars FC
11. Andrew Tjahikika African Stars FC
12. Dennis Ngueza African Stars FC
13. Nelson Geingob Civics FC
14. Ivan Makina Orlando Pirates FC
15. Gottlieb Nakuta Blue Waters FC
16. Sheldon du Plessis SKW FC
17. Steven Goagab Orlando Pirates FC
18. Chris Katjiukua Eleven Arrows FC
19. Richard Gariseb Orlando Pirates FC
20. Willem Mwedihanga Tigers FC
21. Quinton Jacobs African Stars FC
22. Horst Siegfried Eichhoff SKW FC
23. Ninja Karongee African Stars FC
24. Eslin Kamuhanga Civics FC
25. Edward Asino Eleven Arrows FC
26. Alfred Shimuma United stars FC
27. Rudi Louw African Stars FC
28. Johannes Seibeb Orlando Pirates FC
29. Edward Damaseb Orlando Pirates FC
30. Marco van Wyk Black Africa FC
31. Tangeni Shipahu Tigers FC
32. Martin Kambungu Swakopmund FC
33. Tobias Mekondjo Ramblers FC
34. Jamunovandu Ngatjizeko African Stars FC
35. Eusibio Fredericks Ramblers FC
36. Sidney Urikhob Orlando Pirates FC
37. Tara Katupose Eleven Arrows FC
38. Muna Katupose Eleven Arrows FC
39. Romanus Shilongo Eleven Arrows FC
40. Ronald Ketjijere African Stars FC
41. Isaak Gustav SKW FC
42. Klaas Blom Orlando Pirates FC
43. Neville Tjiueza Tura Magic
44. Jerome Louis Black Africa FC
45. Heinrich Isaacks Civics FC
46. Benson Shilongo Oshakati City FC
47. Brian Bantam Black Africa FC
48. Roger Katjiteo Black Africa FC
49. Jordan Haimbili Blue Boys FC
50. Sidney Plaatjies Unattached

Source: www.namibiasport.com.na