Namibia’s new coach charges Warriors to be brave against Eagles

Photo credit: Namibian.com.na

Newly named coach of the Namibian national team, Ricardo Mannetti, who was thrown into the deep end as the Brave Warriors coach following the resignation of Roger Palmgren, has called on Namibians to put behind them the Swede’s shock exit and focus on Wednesday’s encounter against Nigeria.

Palmgren resigned at the weekend from his post just over a month after he was appointed following alleged threats to his life. But the Namibian Football Association (NFA) were quick to confirm his assistant Mannetti as the Brave Warriors’ new coach as they get set to take on African champions Nigeria in a World Cup qualifier at the Sam Nujoma Stadium on Wednesday night.

Manetti, in an interview with Namibiasport.com.na, said: “I worked with Roger for two weeks and the knowledge he has about football is enormous and I learned a lot. So for me as well it was a shock that he resigned but as a Namibian fan and a Namibian coach I think that we should not be in shock. We should not let what happened with Roger become a stumbling block for us to give a good performance against Nigeria on Wednesday evening.”

“That has been my plea to the national team, that we must take hands and that we must forget about Roger. He is in the past now and he’s not going to come back - he has resigned, he has moved on. Now we have to look at what we have, and what players we have. We have to roll up our sleeves, and give it our all,” added Manetti, who also called on Namibians to support the team on Wednesday evening.

“We need all the Namibian fans to get behind this team and forget about the fact that Roger is not there. This is their team and it is our team, it is our pride and joy, and we have to treat it as such. So I just have this plea to the entire nation that they must come and support their team, because this team needs their support.”

The Brave Warriors’ new helmsman was nevertheless adamant that his side would give the Super Eagles a run for their money on Wednesday.

“It will be very tough against Nigeria, they are after all the African champions. We will respect them but we are not going to roll over and let them come and dictate matters in Windhoek. Our boys are up for a fight and we will be warriors for the entire 90 minutes.”

And despite not having the services of a couple of national team regulars, Manetti remains optimistic.

“The only thing that I can predict is that these boys will not roll over and be taken for a ride on this pitch on Wednesday evening. These guys will fight for the entire 90 minutes and they will make every Namibian fan very proud of being a Namibian,” he said.

Link to story: http://namibiasport.com.na/node/30707