Windhoek — The team manager of the national senior football team the Brave Warriors, Tim Isaacs, has come out strongly against the armchair critics who have been making it their beat to question the selection policy of the Brave Warriors at the slightest provocation.

Some self-styled football pundits have been seeking answers to the rationale behind calling players for national duty who constantly warm the benches of their respective teams, at the expense of local based footballers who are exposed to game time week in and week out.

"Of course, we are worried about the lack of game time for many of our foreign legion but it should also be well understood that these players are exposed to better training and also engage regularly in high profiled friendly matches against credible opponents. The fitness level of footballers in the domestic league and those playing abroad are worlds apart."

Isaacs has also expressed concerns over the delay to the league's kick-off - a situation that seriously affects the functions of the technical staff.

"It's a well documented fact that local players usually take between five to six games before they reach their peak and it would be a risk to select ineffective players for national duty at this point in time - that's why the technical staff have opted to go the foreign route in terms of team selection."

However, Isaacs could not provide answers for the continued omission of some foreign-based players who are playing regularly at their respective clubs such as Black Leopards' goalkeeper Ephraim Tjihonge and Michael "Dolam Tower" Pienaar of Carara Kicks.

Pienaar has become a regular starter for his new South African club, while compatriot and teammate Steven Goagab is warming the bench. However, Goagab has been selected together with another bench warmer, Abisai "Zico" Shaningayamwe of Jomo Cosmos for Namibia's clash against Zimbabwe, despite their lack of game time.

Asked about Namibia's habitual inactivity on FIFA sanctioned dates for international friendlies, the sharp tongued Isaacs was quick out of his blocks and blamed the situation on insufficient funds.

"It all boils down to financial constraints, because we've not really been able to make much progress in persuading our financial backers to pump in more money into the activities of the national team.

"You may recall that we played a couple of friendly matches prior to our participation in the 26th edition of the African Cup of Nations in Ghana earlier this year, but those matches came as a result of invitation with our hosts covering a good chunk of our expense."

Isaacs further emphasized the need and importance of playing more international friendlies against formidable opponents as such practice would give the national selectors and technical staff an ideal opportunity to try different combinations and find a winning formula.

"Being knocked out of the 2010 World Cup and Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, does not mean it's now the end of international football for Namibia - we now have an opportunity to regroup and build a good squad capable of staging a serious challenge for the 2012 African Nations Cup finals."

Isaacs said the team is looking forward to a possible international friendly against old foes Bafana Bafana - scheduled for the 4th of next month in Germiston, Johannesburg, South Africa.

"We did receive an invitation from the South African Football Association (SAFA) to engage in the above-mentioned match and we are just waiting for Safa to tie up some loose ends before we can confidently confirm our anticipated participation."