'I have come full circle'

Brave Warriors coach Ricardo Mannetti says he is still to decide whether he will continue with the team or not. His contract ends on 31 July.Mannetti was reluctant to speak about his future yesterday, following a dismal end to the Warriors' Afcon 2019 campaign, when they were beaten 1-4 by Ivory Coast in their final group match. The team suffered two unlucky defeats to Morocco and South Africa in their first two group matches, but were thoroughly outclassed by the Ivoirians, while making some rather silly mistakes. Mannetti said he still has a few weeks to clear his mind and make a decision about the Warriors' coaching job.He believes that the Fifa normalisation committee, which is currently running the affairs of the Namibia Football Association (NFA), will have the final say on whether he will be granted a contract extension or not. “I think I have come full circle since I started in the development structures with the association and since my days as under-20 coach. “I graduated with these specific players and we work very well together in the senior team and we have achieved so much together.“I have to go back and sit with my family, because I just can't decide out of the blue and say I am done with the team or I am going to continue,” Mannetti said. He added he has done what he could for the team and achieved what he had to achieve during his reign so far. “It now also all depends on whether the normalisation committee wants me to stay on and under what conditions. “I believe the conditions they will come up with will also be key, especially what more they want me to achieve and what their objectives are,” Mannetti added. Mannetti's men bowed out of Afcon 2019 following three successive defeats against three African football powerhouses. They finished at the bottom of Group D with no points, while scoring only one goal in their three matches. Morocco topped the group with nine points, followed by Ivory Coast and South Africa. “Overall, I believe the boys did what they could, especially in the first two matches.“I did not expect the last performance to be like that, because we made immature errors that cost us the game. “My contract is ending on 31 of July and I basically have enough time to clear my mind and decide what is best for me and my family,” Mannetti said.Born on 25 April 1975, Mannetti grew up in Khomasdal where his passion for sport developed.Mannetti spent most of his junior years in Khomasdal, where he attended MH Greeff and Khomasdal primary schools.He went on to complete his school education at Ella du Plessis Secondary School.In 1992, at the tender age of 17, Mannetti made his debut for the Brave Warriors and went on to obtain 60 national caps. He had a stint with Civics (1997) and also played for South African clubs Santos (1997-2005) and Bush Bucks FC (2005-2006).He also had a short loan spell at Avendale Athletico. In June 2013 Mannetti was appointed as national coach, replacing Swedish national Rodger Palmgren.Two years later, Mannetti became the first national team coach to lift the Cosafa Cup in South Africa, after his team defeated Mozambique 2-0 in the final.In 2016 Mannetti led his nation to the Cosafa Cup plate final, which the Warriors won. Mannetti also helped the nation to qualify for the 2018 African Nations Championship (Chan) and Afcon 2019. Jesse Jackson Kauraisa

'I have come full circle'

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-04

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'I have come full circle'

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-04

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