Tough physical tie in store for Brave Warriors
Brave warriors pose for one more picture in Pretoria before they go to battle with Niger on Sunday in the Afcon qualifers.
Ricardo Mannetti and team captain Ronald Ketjijere both reckon conditions will not be easy and they will have to labour through and get a favourable result.
Mannetti noted that Niger will be more physical in their game play and will have home ground advantage.“We are expecting a physical game from Niger, typical of West African teams. Niger is known to be very physical but we will ensure that we use our strengths as well to make sure we avoid defeat,” said Mannetti.
Warriors captain Ketjijere echoed his coach’s sentiments and added that the Brave Warriors skills and speed will be their armour against Niger.
“Niger will be at home and we expect them to come all out and play attacking football and that will afford us more space in behind their defence and with our speed in attack, I expect us to create more chances to get a favourable result. But of course in football anything can happen and game plans might have to adjust to the situation to get around whatever we might be facing. It will be an interesting game and the boys are fired up” Ketjijere said.
The 2015 COSAFA Champions are currently based at the High Performance Centre in Pretoria and still full strength, they will depart for Niamey, Niger on Thursday from Johannesburg for their Sunday clash against the host and will be returning to Windhoek on Tuesday 16 June.
Meanwhile the team that is set to clash with Niger is as follows: Goalkeepers: Virgil Vries and Maximillian Mbaeva; Defenders, Willem Mwedihanga, Chris Katjiukua, Denzil Hoaseb, Ananias Gebhardt, Gregory Aukumeb, Dennis Ngueza Tjetinda; Midfielders: Neville Tjiueza, Willy Stephanus, Heinrich Isaacks, Peter Shalulile, Ronald Ketjijere (C), Wangu Batista, Joslin Kamatuka, Petrus Shitembi, Deon Hotto; Strikers:, Itamunua Keimuine Sadney Urikhob and Benson Shilongo.
