Football: African Nations Championship (Chan)-Pirates await Brave Warriors |10 March 2010

Visitors Namibia are expected here today to play the country’s national team in Saturday’s first leg match at Stad Linite.

Dutch technical adviser Jan Mak took charge of The Pirates’ training on Sunday – the day the players went into camp at the Maison Football.

Speaking to Sports Nation yesterday afternoon, Mr Mak said that although he has had only a short time to work with the team, he hopes to get a positive result on Saturday.

“It’s true we have to do a lot of things in a very short time. It’s not optimal. I understand the circumstances under which the players are working and I can also feel what’s going on,” he said.

The tactician added that after his first stint last year when he gave local coaches some tips on how to organise their training, there have been some improvements in the level of local football.

“I can see that the players are more aware of what they do on the pitch. They displayed it in some league matches I’ve seen during the weekend. This is good for the national team and it is important for the players to be consistent in whatever they do if they want to improve the local game,” added Mr Mak.

Asked how confident he is about getting a win on Saturday, the Dutchman – who called on the more experienced players to guide the young ones – replied: “We hope to get a good result in the home leg to put us in the right frame of mind and in a good position for the return fixture.”

The return leg will take place in Windhoek on March 27. If the Pirates get a win in their first try in the Chan, they will clash with either Swaziland or Zimbabwe in May and June for a place in the final stage of the championship.

Coached by Belgian Tom Saintfiet, Namibia warmed up for Saturday’s match with a 1-1 draw with 2010 World Cup hosts South Africa in front of a sell-out capacity crowd of 50,000 at the new Moses Mabhida Stadium last week.

South African-based striker Rudolph Bester tapped in a square pass from winger Razundura Tjikuzu in the 42nd minute before Katlego Mphela grabbed a 70th-minute equaliser to save South Africa's blushes.

The Chan competition was introduced in 2008 and is limited to local-based players on the African continent.

The Democratic Republic of Congo won the inaugural title in March 2009 when they beat Ghana 2-0 in the finals in Ivory Coast.

G. G.