Corry Ihuhua
11 September 2008
Brave Warriors striker Costa Khaiseb was yesterday banned from the national side after he used vulgar language towards coach Tom Saintfiet and was drunk while on national duty.
Khaiseb, who accompanied the team to Kenya over the weekend but did not play in the match against Kenya, reportedly swore at Saintfiet and threw a soccer ball at the coach, which hit him on the nose.
Saintfiet told journalists at a media briefing yesterday that Khaiseb was clearly drunk before the team left the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport en route to Namibia.
"His behaviour was unacceptable and unprofessional. He was totally drunk. And as long as I am the coach of this team, he will not be part of it," Saintfiet said.
Namibia Football Association secretary general Barry Rukoro confirmed that the executive had decided not to consider Khaiseb for national selection anymore.
Asked why the player did not get a disciplinary hearing, Rukoro said the coach has the discretion to ban or omit a player from his team at any time.
"The NFA is behind the coach as we do not tolerate such behaviour from our players.
Khaiseb is a good player, but his behaviour at the end the let him down and therefore we are banning him from being selected to the national side," said Rukoro.
Saintfiet said at least 10 people witnessed the incident.
Senior players Quinton Jacobs and George Hummel tried to pacify Khaiseb, who was reportedly throwing tantrums in full view of the people at the airport.
"These players are supposed to be mature and professional. They are supposed to act as such. I don't have to look after them. They need to know what is expected from them and the bad behaviour by Khaiseb unfortunately does not warrant him to be in the team," said Saintfiet.
Saintfiet, who took over the Warriors earlier this year, added that he expects players to respect rules and does not tolerate the behaviour of players who indulge in alcohol.
"The player was maybe frustrated because I did not pick him for the Kenya match, but it does not mean that he should become unruly.
He did not obey the rules and I am sorry that he will never play while I am still in charge," he maintained.
Disappointed Saintfiet also expressed displeasure at the way in which Burundian referee Jean Marie Hicuburundi handled the match.
"I was disappointed in the result at the end, but I was more frustrated by the way in which the result came about.
The referee was continuously talking to the players in Swahili and even told our captain (Collin Benjamin) that he was not his (Hicuburundi's) captain and that he should not speak to him.
He told Collin to speak to his players instead of speaking to him," said Saintfiet.
"But generally, I was satisfied with the performance of our players and I will once again field a full-strength side against Zimbabwe next month," he said.
"We need to show the Namibian people that we can play and I want us to end on a high note in our next match against Zimbabwe, hopefully at the Sam Nujoma Stadium."
He said the core of the team that will face Zimbabwe on the weekend of October 10 and 12 will consist of players who played against Kenya.
Saintfiet also reported that midfielder Oliver Risser will be out of action for at least six months after he tore the cruciate ligaments in his knee during a tackle by Kenya's Jamal Mohammed.
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