It’s becoming a tricky Afcon for the ‘homeboys’

The early stages of the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) are turning out to be an uphill struggle for foreign players playing soccer in South Africa.

Both Namibia and Zimbabwe have lost their opening matches, leaving them at the bottom-end of the respective groups in the tournament.

Now Namibians Annanias Gebhart and Larry Hoareb – both players at Limpopo’s Baroka FC – go into their next match in their national squad in need of an outright win.

Other Namibian players doing business in South Africa are Riaan Hanamub, who plays for National First Division (NFD) campaigners, Jomo Cosmos FC, Joslyn Kamatuka (Cape Umoya United) and Loydt
Kazupa (Maccabi FC).

Namibia was scheduled to play Bafana Bafana on Friday 28 June.

Baroka FC’s Zimbabwean goal-minder, Elvis Chipezeze, forms part of the national team which faces a likewise must-win against Uganda midweek.

The Zimbabweans have another date with DR Congo on Sunday 30 June, while Namibia takes on Ivory Coast on Monday 1 July.

Also in the Zimbabwean squad is George Chigova of Polokwane City FC, and his homeboy Edmore Sibanda, who plays for Witbank Spurs FC in the NFD.

Abdi Banda on the Tanzanian select team also plays for Baroka FC.

George Chigova, also on the Zimbabwean squad, plays for Polokwane City FC in South Africa’s Absa Premiership.

The upside to all this is that these players have the opportunity to showcase their skills to talent scouts descending from the highest leagues around the world.

— The BEAT