Kazapua dedicates CHAN to late father
Goalkeeper Calvin Spiegel's dream of playing in the African Nations Championships (CHAN) was ended by an ankle injury, making Loydt Kazapua a definite choice.
Brave Warriors goalkeeper Loydt Kazapua says he will play with all his heart in the CHAN competition and will also dedicate every match to his late father.
Kazapua is currently in camp with the national team in Tunisia where they are preparing for the 2018 African Nations Championships (CHAN) competition slated for Morocco this month.
The keeper lost his father in mid-December and has vowed to play in his memory at the competition.
“I feel blessed and honoured to be able to represent my country in such a competition. Oh I thank the Almighty for the talent that he gave me.
“It will be my first major competition apart from the Cosafa Cup and I am really looking forward to doing well for my country.
“I will also dedicate every match I play to my late father who passed on in December last year,” Kazapua said.
In the past, Kazapua has been troubled by a shoulder injury that has kept him on the sidelines on many occasions.
But he assures Namibian Sun that the problem is something of the past and that he is fit enough to play.
“I can assure you that I am in great shape and I am fit enough to have a very good tournament.
“However, that is all up to my coach on whether I will be in the starting line-up or not,” Kazapua says.
Meanwhile, Namibia's injury problems continue after goalkeeper Calvin Spiegel was ruled out of the team with an ankle injury.
This follows the team's announcement that Immanuel Heita was also ruled out of the competition because of a knee injury.
Namibia will also be without their CHAN qualification hero Muna Katupose, who is nursing a knee injury.
Namibia qualified to the competition after beating Zimbabwe and the Comoros in the qualifying rounds.
The tournament will see the 2015 Cosafa champions playing Zambia, Uganda and African powerhouse Ivory Coast in the group stages.
The Brave Warriors open their campaign against Ivory Coast on 14 January before battling Uganda on 18 January, with their final group stage game slated for 22 January against Zambia.
Morocco heads Group A and will face Sudan, Guinea and Mauritania in Casablanca while Namibia and company will contest in Marrakech.
Libya, Nigeria, Rwanda and Equatorial Guinea are in Group C and will play in Tangier while in Agadir; Group D will take centre stage with Angola, Cameroon, Congo and Burkina Faso.
The quarterfinals will be played on 27 and 28 January, while the semi-finals will be held on 31 January 2018.
The third-place match will be on 3 February and the grand finale is slated for 4 February 2018 at the newly refurbished Mohamed V Complex in Casablanca.
“It is unfortunate that we have been hit by injuries during these crucial moments in our preparations.
“I am however optimistic that the remaining guys will do us proud because they have been working so hard in training,” coach Ricardo Mannetti said.
Here is 23 Brave Warriors for the 2018 CHAN finals: Edward Maova, Charles Uirab, Lodyt Kazapua, Ferdinand Karongee, Tiberius Lombard, Charles Hambira, Edmund Kambanda, Dynamo Fredericks, Hendrick Somaeb, Petrus Shitembi, Benyamin Nenkavu, Ronald Ketjijere, Emilio Martin, Absalom Iimbondi, Roger Katjiteo, Kleopas Useb, Vitapi Ngaruka, Panduleni Nekundi, Junias Theophilus, Riaan Hanamub, Oswaldo Xamseb, Itamunua Keimuine and Himeezembi Hengombe.
JESSE JACKSON KAURAISA
Kazapua is currently in camp with the national team in Tunisia where they are preparing for the 2018 African Nations Championships (CHAN) competition slated for Morocco this month.
The keeper lost his father in mid-December and has vowed to play in his memory at the competition.
“I feel blessed and honoured to be able to represent my country in such a competition. Oh I thank the Almighty for the talent that he gave me.
“It will be my first major competition apart from the Cosafa Cup and I am really looking forward to doing well for my country.
“I will also dedicate every match I play to my late father who passed on in December last year,” Kazapua said.
In the past, Kazapua has been troubled by a shoulder injury that has kept him on the sidelines on many occasions.
But he assures Namibian Sun that the problem is something of the past and that he is fit enough to play.
“I can assure you that I am in great shape and I am fit enough to have a very good tournament.
“However, that is all up to my coach on whether I will be in the starting line-up or not,” Kazapua says.
Meanwhile, Namibia's injury problems continue after goalkeeper Calvin Spiegel was ruled out of the team with an ankle injury.
This follows the team's announcement that Immanuel Heita was also ruled out of the competition because of a knee injury.
Namibia will also be without their CHAN qualification hero Muna Katupose, who is nursing a knee injury.
Namibia qualified to the competition after beating Zimbabwe and the Comoros in the qualifying rounds.
The tournament will see the 2015 Cosafa champions playing Zambia, Uganda and African powerhouse Ivory Coast in the group stages.
The Brave Warriors open their campaign against Ivory Coast on 14 January before battling Uganda on 18 January, with their final group stage game slated for 22 January against Zambia.
Morocco heads Group A and will face Sudan, Guinea and Mauritania in Casablanca while Namibia and company will contest in Marrakech.
Libya, Nigeria, Rwanda and Equatorial Guinea are in Group C and will play in Tangier while in Agadir; Group D will take centre stage with Angola, Cameroon, Congo and Burkina Faso.
The quarterfinals will be played on 27 and 28 January, while the semi-finals will be held on 31 January 2018.
The third-place match will be on 3 February and the grand finale is slated for 4 February 2018 at the newly refurbished Mohamed V Complex in Casablanca.
“It is unfortunate that we have been hit by injuries during these crucial moments in our preparations.
“I am however optimistic that the remaining guys will do us proud because they have been working so hard in training,” coach Ricardo Mannetti said.
Here is 23 Brave Warriors for the 2018 CHAN finals: Edward Maova, Charles Uirab, Lodyt Kazapua, Ferdinand Karongee, Tiberius Lombard, Charles Hambira, Edmund Kambanda, Dynamo Fredericks, Hendrick Somaeb, Petrus Shitembi, Benyamin Nenkavu, Ronald Ketjijere, Emilio Martin, Absalom Iimbondi, Roger Katjiteo, Kleopas Useb, Vitapi Ngaruka, Panduleni Nekundi, Junias Theophilus, Riaan Hanamub, Oswaldo Xamseb, Itamunua Keimuine and Himeezembi Hengombe.
JESSE JACKSON KAURAISA
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