Namibia national football team cherish Highland Park facilities

WINDHOEK, March 19 (Xinhua) -- The Namibia national football team Brave Warriors are preparing for their clash against Zambia at the South African Premier League side Highlands Park facilities in Johannesburg and coach Ricardo Mannetti believes it will set them up for a positive result against Zambia in the African Cup of Nations qualifier on Saturday, Namibia Football Association (NFA) announced Tuesday.

The Brave Warriors will have to avoid defeat in Zambia on Saturday to all but secure a berth at the 2019 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) Finals in Egypt from 21 June to 19 July and coach Ricardo Mannetti reckons it will be achieved on Saturday in Lusaka at the National Heroes Stadium, thanks to the facilities at Highlands Park headquarters.

"We are very grateful to Highlands Park for availing their facilities free of charge for our use at any time and it is something we truly cherish. The facilities are world class, the pitch is very similar to the one in Zambia, and so our final touches here will come in handy on Saturday. We are working on finding the right combinations for the biggest game of this year and the players are in great mood and raring to go", Mannetti states.

Star striker Peter Shalulile and versatile defender Denzil Haoseb frequent the facilities as they play for Highlands Park.

Sadney Urikhob, Benson Shilongo and Itamunua Keimuine have joined the team as expected while Black Africa defender Vitapi Ngaruka is out due to paperwork issues.

"Vitapi will not join us but we have enough depth in defence and we will prepare as such and go to Zambia to get the result we need to qualify and remember it is really in our hands so we can't afford to throw it away", says Mannetti.