THE national under-20 soccer team coach, Willem Kapukare, and his assistant, Richard Starke, have been fired by the Namibia Football Association (NFA).

The NFA said in a statement on Friday that the decision to give the two coaches the boot was effective immediately.

The drastic decision was taken following the humiliating 9-0 defeat to South Africa in the opening match of the Cosafa Under-20 championship in Johannesburg a fortnight ago.

"The NFA has looked at the matter with the maturity it deserves and finally opted to relieve the two coaches off their duties with regard to the national under-20 side," NFA Secretary General Barry Rukoro said.

The Association said a new coaching staff for the under-20 team would be announced in the new year.

The young Namibians lost 9-0 in their first game against South Africa in Group A and went on to lose 4-2 to the Seychelles in their final group match to finish bottom of the group and bowed out of the competition where they finished fourth two years ago under the tutelage of African Stars coach Bobby Samaria. - Nampa