WINDHOEK, Sept. 28 (Xinhua) -- Namibia's football coach Ricardo Mannetti Thursday flew out with 18 players for an international friendly match against Botswana set for Sept. 30 in Gaborone.
The squad will take part in Botswana's Independence celebrations and according to Mannetti, the friendly will be used to give game time to both Namibia's U-23s for their qualifiers match in November as well as the senior team ahead of their 2019 AFCON qualifiers.
Mannetti included five U-23s the likes of goalkeper, Vipua Tjimune as well as all-rounder Aprocius Petrus, defender Lubeni Haukongo and Hiha Katjivena, who will be led by veteran senior captain, Ronald Ketjijere.
"The idea still remains to keep the local players very active and this game will surely give them enough game time under their belts and that can come in handy as we build up to our 2019 AFCON qualifiers next month," added Mannetti.
The team will return on Monday and continue in camp before Mannetti announces another training squad for a camp to be held in South Africa from Oct. 7 before the game in Mozambique on Oct. 13.
The full squad that travelled to Bostwana is as follows: Ratanda Mbazuvara, Vipua Tjimune, Larry Horaeb, Vitapi Ngaruka, Emilio Martin, Charles Hambira, Lubeni Haukongo, Aprocius Petrus, Ronald Ketjijere, Marcel Papama, Hiha Katjivena, Petrus Shitembi, Absalom Iimbondi, Immanuel Heita, Muna Katupose, Sadney Urikhob, Jandjamuje Maharero and Dynamo Fredericks.
