Namibia’s ‘Nigerian’ midfielder Eslin Kamuhanga says that being an unknown team makes them dangerous

Namibia’s ‘Nigerian’ midfielder Eslin Kamahunga says that being an unknown team makes them dangerous

Jun 2, 2012 6:31:00 PM

The Brave Warriors’ player has an affinity for Nigerian culture and feels that they can surprise their hosts in Sunday’s World Cup qualifying encounter

The Namibian national team that will face Nigeria in a 2014 Fifa World Cup Brazil qualifier on Sunday has a player that every member of the squad refers to as a Nigerian.

Eslin Kamahunga, 30, who plays with Namibian league champions Black Africa speaks Nigerian Pidgin English and is a lover of Nigerian culture.

Known by his nickname Lovers among team mates, Kamahunga says he learnt to speak Nigerian lingo from watching Nollywood films and listening to popular Nigerian music on Namibian radio stations. He has been of great help to the team where many have complained of not understanding Nigerian accents.

However, that is where the love affair ends as the midfielder talked tough ahead of their game with Nigeria on Sunday in Calabar.

“The Super Eagles are a big team in Africa, it’s a big game for us,” Kamahunga told Goal.com.

“In international football there is no small or big country so if you’re good on the day I think you can get a good result.

“The good thing is that we have the advantage because they don’t know us and we know them. That’s a good thing, that’s our advantage. It’s very good to prepare against somebody that you know.

“It’s very difficult to prepare against an opponent that you don’t know, so for us it’s an advantage. They don’t know us but we know them.

“I think this game is going to be a very interesting game and we’re ready,” he said.

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