The Brave Gladiators players and the team’s coach, Woody Jacobs, have both expressed readiness to face Uganda in their first match of the Council of Southern Africa Football Associations (Cosafa) 2021 tournament in Gqeberha, South Africa on Thursday.
Speaking to Nampa from their base in Gqeberha, Gladiators player Agnes Kauzuu said the team is ready to compete rather than to participate.
“The mood in the camp is great. The preparations are going well. The spirit and unity in the camp will drive us through. We have been discussing fear and we will not fear anyone,” she said, adding that they are only focused on football matters.
Team captain Eddelsisingh Emma Naris said the players were adjusting to the windy conditions in Gqeberha, but that they had prepared well for the tournament.
Her views were echoed by Jacobs, who said they will take the game to Uganda.
“We will utilise our strengths and minimise our weaknesses. We will field a very attacking side. We will not sit back and invite them to us. We are going to adapt to every situation,” he explained, adding that the main aim is to do well at the tournament as Namibia has a lot of talent to compete with the best in the world.
“We want to go beyond the group stages. I know Zambia is the favourite, but as Namibians, we always come out tops when faced with adversity. I believe in the girls and their abilities,” Jacobs said.
The coach further explained that he was impressed with new player, Gaironeeza Maclobo, whom he described as a technically gifted player.
“Yesterday was her first training session with us and it was an eye-opener. She seemed to enjoy herself and we are working hard to help her adjust to the team. She needs to get used to the intensity and speed at which we play,” Jacobs added, indicating that the new recruit will definitely play a part in the tournament, especially the last two games of the group stages.
Namibia will play Uganda at 12h00 on Thursday, before facing Zambia on Sunday at 15h30 and then concluding the group stages against Eswatini at 15h30 on Tuesday.
Source: The Namibian Press Agency
