Africa CHAN: NAMIBIA SUSPENDS TRAINING OVER COVID-19

Namibia’s Brave Warriors’ preparations for the forthcoming African Nations Championship (Chan) scheduled for Cameroon have suffered a setback due to the coronavirus pandemic.

A statement from the Namibia Football Federation (NFA) says the Brave Warriors camp training has been suspended due to the pandemic.

The local-based players have been in camp since 8 December 2020 and after the routine tests done on 29 December 2020, 10 players and one technical staff member tested positive for Covid-19.

“The NFA immediately activated the relevant protocols that includes isolation and calling off group activities temporarily,” reads the statement.

Namibia have since cancelled plans to participate in a pre-Chan tournament involving the Democratic Republic of Congo and the hosts Rwanda.

The warm up tournament will run from January 7 to 11 2021 in Rwanda ahead of the start of Chan on January 16 2021 until 7 February 2021.

At Chan, the Brave Warriors are in Group D alongside Guinea, Tanzania and Zambia.

Earlier, Namibia interim head coach Bobby Samaria called up a provisional squad of 31 players for the camp training.

Samaria said his charges had a challenge to catch up on fitness as they had been inactive due to the break induced by the pandemic.

 “The challenge is getting the players match fit and what compounds matters is we won’t be able to play regional teams as we did prior to Covid 19, unless those teams get tested for Covid-19 too,” he said.

Brave Warriors provisional squad:

Goalkeepers:

Edward Maova, Ratanda Mbazuvara, Kamaijanda Ndisiro, Jonas Matheus, Immanuel Immanuel.

Defenders:

Emilio Martin, Vitapi Ngaruka, Ivan Kamberipa, Pat-Nevin Uanivi, Larry Horaeb, Gregory Aukumeb, Aprocius Petrus, Erasmus Ikeinge, Johannes Mutanga, Kleopas Nuukushu.

Midfielders:

Dynamo Fredericks, Immanuel Heita, Ambrosius Amseb, Wendell Rudath, Gustav Isaak, Alfeus Handura, Llewelyn Stanley, Absalom Iimbondi, Wesley Katjiteo, Marcel Papama, Brandon Neibeb.

Forwards:

Elmo Kambindu, Issaskar Gurirab, Panduleni Nekundi, Monis Omseb, Deryl Goagoseb.


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