Namibia’s Brave Gladiators claimed a 2-0 victory over Liechtenstein in their second international friendly on Sunday, following a 1-1 draw in the first encounter on Thursday.
Utuzuvira Kahiriri and Memory Ngonda found the back of the net for the jubilant Namibian side, with Coach Woody Jacobs praising his team’s performance.
“It was a brilliant football match,” Jacobs said. “We knew we had it in us to beat Liechtenstein, and the girls played out of their skin.”
He highlighted the contributions of Kahiriri, who scored her first international goal, labelling her a “star in the making.” Jacobs also commended Anna-Ida Somses on her debut and singled out Juliana Blou as Namibia’s standout player.
He also had praise for the ‘stalwarts’ such as captain Lovisa Mulunga, Emma Naris, Thomalina Adams and Lydiana Namamus who held their own on the day.
Jacobs acknowledged the efforts of Liechtenstein, particularly their goalkeeper, while expressing his satisfaction with the tour’s outcome.
“We can take a lot from this tour and take it into Cosafa,” Jacobs said, referencing the upcoming tournament where Namibia seeks to improve on their results since reaching the finals in 2005.
Captain Lovisa Mulunga echoed the coach’s sentiments, emphasizing the importance of these friendlies for exposure and preparation.
“These are the matches we need,” Mulunga stated. “We thank the Liechtenstein Football Association for the invitation and our own NFA for accepting it.”
Germany-based midfielder Veweziwa Kotjipati echoed the team’s appreciation for the opportunity.
“We had an opportunity to analyse them after the first match,” Kotjipati explained. “We executed our game plan very well today. Playing against European teams is always a good opportunity to measure ourselves.”
The Brave Gladiators head into the Cosafa tournament with boosted confidence and valuable insights gained from their European friendlies.