Carlos Kambaekwa
26 March 2008
Windhoek — Namibia's Under 17 football eleven failed to clear the last hurdle in the 4-Nations Youth Tournament in Walvis Bay.
The youngsters lost their final match against the more composed visiting Westphalia Regional Invitation at a packed Kuisebmond Stadium last Thursday.
The hosts went into their final match with a depleted team after the spine of the team picked up an assortment of nagging injuries in the 5-day competition which led to their playing with their backs to the wall for the better part of an otherwise entertaining match.
Despite the odds being stacked against them, the injury-plagued Namibians put up a gutsy showing before they eventually succumbed to the German's onslaught, going down by 4 goals to 2 by the time the referee signalled the end of the contest.
In the curtain raiser, Namibia's second strings' miserable run in the tournament continued with a 6 - 0 mauling by South Africa's Amajitas for the third place play-off.
Halftime 1 - 0.
The defending champions had to be satisfied with a bronze medal after Tebogo Moloi's charges were tied at 5 points each alongside hosts Namibia and Westphalia after completion of the league phase but the South Africans narrowly lost out for a place in the final because of their inferior goal difference.
Hosts Namibia and South Africa used the 5-day tournament as a yardstick ahead of the forthcoming African Youth Championships qualifiers which begin in earnest next month.
Namibia begin their assault with a two-legged date against Lesotho next month and victory for the "Baby Warriors" over their youthful counterparts from the Mountain Kingdom would propel them to a confrontation against Zambia in the next round.
South Africa's Amajitas are the likely next opponents should Namibia negotiate her way past the Young Chipolopolos.
The finals for the continental youth championships will be played in Algeria next year.
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