Namibia head off to COSAFA rivals Mozambique for the first of their 2019 African Nations Cup double-header with coach Ricardo Mannetti suggesting the team needs to focus for the full 90 minutes to improve a poor away record of late.
The Brave Warriors will clash with The Mambas in Maputo o0n Saturday, before hosting their opponents next Tuesday.
Namibia have a single point from their two qualifiers to date, but can change the complexion of the pool if they can bag back-to-back wins.
“I challenge the guys to change their mindset,” Mannetti told reporters. “We don’t need to think about when are we are leaving that country to come back to our comfort zone, we need to fully concentrate for 90 minutes and we need to work very hard.
“We need to give more than the home side and change our away record which does not read well at all.
“We need to fight more, we need to press more and we need to be ready for whatever Mozambique throw at us. If we can do that then we can come back home and plan accordingly as well.
“Our priority now should be the away game which can be huge for us in terms of how we go forward as a team mentally.”
Mannetti announced a 26-man squad that assembled in Johannesburg on Monday ahead of their departure for Maputo on Thursday.
There is a welcome return for Highlands Park playmaker Peter Shalulile, who has been missing of late with injury.
“We have talent in this team and with Peter back we can surely do more and the challenge is for the boys to go to Mozambique and do something they have not done before, double their effort and have the right frame of mind to get a good result,” Mannetti said.
Namibia squad: Maximillian Mbaeva (Golden Arrows, RSA), Virgil Vries (Kaizer Chiefs, RSA), Ratanda Mbazuvara (African Stars), Loydt Kazapua (Macabbi FC, RSA) Larry Horaeb (Unattached), Emilio Martin (Black Africa), Tiberius Lombard (Lusaka Dynamos, Zambia), Charles Hambira (Baroka, RSA) Denzil Haoseb (Highlands Park, RSA), Vitapi Ngaruka (Black Africa), Riaan Hananub (Jomo Cosmos, RSA) Ananias Gebhardt (Baroka, RSA), Dynamo Fredericks (Black Africa), Petrus Shitembi (Unattached), Ronald Ketjijere (African Stars), Wangu Batista Gome (Cape Umoya, RSA), Immanuel Heita (Black Africa), Absalom Iimbondi (Tigers), Deon Hotto (Bidvest Wits), Willy Stephanus (AC Kanjaani, Finland), Marcel Papama (Unam), Hendrik Somaeb (FK Zermun, Serbia), Muna Katupose (Unam), Sadney Urikhob (Unattached), Benson Shilongo (Smouha, Egypt) and Itamunua Keimuine (Dire Dawa City FC, Ethiopia).
