Erasmus Shalihaxwe
The U20 men’s national soccer team’s head coach Jerimi Zimmer and his assistant Uerikondjera Kasaona have named the final squad ahead of the 2025 COSAFA Under-20 Championship.
The team reported for camp on Thursday and will be based at the NFA Technical Centre in Windhoek.
Zimmer said the tournament is a crucial stepping stone for young players aiming to join the Brave Warriors or sign for Premier League clubs.
He explained that most players in camp are active in the MTC HopSol Youth League, so the focus will be on tactical work rather than fitness.
“Most of the players in camp are currently playing in the MTC HopSol Youth League, and the league is still active, meaning the focus will be more on the tactical aspects and little on fitness. We want the players to understand our methodology. We will try out a few combinations with a few scheduled practice matches and will have daily training and video sessions with the players for them to understand what we expect from them,” said Zimmer.
Zimmer served as assistant coach to James Britz when Namibia reached the COSAFA U20 final in 2020, losing 1-0 to Mozambique in Port Elizabeth.
That squad later made a historic appearance at the U20 TotalEnergies AFCON.
“I am looking forward to my first official international match as coach of the Young Warriors, and I believe that the crop of talent we have will make my job much easier,” he said.The final squad includes:
Ganeb Rodriques Andreas Gegu, Kavendjii Mcheni, Honesly Hero, Smith Mauricio Given, Guiseb Antonius Tino, Haitamba Promise, Hakushika Leopold Panduleni Iyaloo, Bell Everett Carl, Malgas Mpumelelo Damion, Timotheus Onesmus Hafyenanye, Sakues Lukas Mandjoro, Tjipuka Muhupua, Awaseb Fabiano Ewald, Deckenbrock Nicolas Claus, Nasima Vygotsky, Van Wyk Robinho Tiro, Brünzel Vitario Leonard Riki, Kauzuu Suveree Martino Selwyn, Gawab Andriano, Naobeb Rashid Simon Alfred, and Kandjou Ronald Junior Vimanuka.
