Carlos Kambaekwa
8 October 2008
Windhoek — Civics' discarded pocket size winger Victor Helu has been recalled to the Brave Warriors squad ahead of Saturday's match of convenience against Zimbabwe in the 2010 FIFA World Cup preliminary and CAF African Nations Cup qualifier at Windhoek's Independence Stadium on Saturday.
The stocky midfielder is one of two new faces added to the initial squad announced by Warriors coach Tom Saintfiet last week.
Helu replaces Levy "Meraai" Swartbooi, who has been withdrawn by his Angolan club after the stocky centre field player sprained his ankle in a club match last weekend. Former Black Africa's goal poacher and Civics' new signatory Jerome Louis is another late call-up in place of the injury plagued Henrico Botes.
Though the injury to Botes is reportedly not a serious one - his withdrawal is more of a precautionary measure while his level of fitness is also doubtful following a long layoff through a career threatening injury.
The 20-member squad reported for training yesterday morning and the boys were as usual taken through their paces by the seemingly upbeat Warriors' technical staff.
Team manager Tim Isaacs says it will be good if the team can end their disastrous campaign in the qualifiers with victory as they did in their opening match against Kenya before the wheels of fortune came off.
"It's an open secret that the result will be of very little significance to us but pride is at stake and a comprehensive win over Zimbabwe would lift the spirit of the team and improve our shaky position on the FIFA rankings."
With a possible international friendly against South Africa's "Bafana Bafana" on the menu - Isaacs called on all football lovers to rally behind the team and believes the boys are fired up to give the success starved local fans something to cheer about and bow out of the competition in some style.
"I don't want to make any excuses for the team's failure to reach the finals of the 27th edition of the CAF African Nations Cup in Angola in 2010 - it's my sincere belief that if we had a settled squad we could have gone all the way, who knows?" quipped the streetwise football administrator with tongue in cheek.
He also expressed serious concerns over the delay that has brought domestic league activities to a halt before a ball has been kicked for the 2008/2009 season.
"Our coach Tom Saintfiet would have loved to see more players in match situations but the current situation is making it extremely difficult for him to select players whom he has not seen in action and of course their fitness levels remain another issue of concern."
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