By Sports Reporter
With five days to go before Namibia starts her defence of the Cosafa Castle Cup against Botswana in the quarterfinals, suspended Brave Warriors goalkeeper Virgil Vries have also issued an apology to the nation and the team.
Vries had earlier absconded from the team’s training camp for three days and had written an apology to football.
“I wish to deposit my sincere and profound apology to the Namibian people, in particular the football-loving Nation and all football enthusiasts, the Namibian Football Association [NFA], the Brave Warriors and its die-hard supporters, the technical team, my fellow players and my coach, Ricardo Mannetti for my irresponsible conduct and behaviour from absconding from the Brave Warriors Camp for three days without any apology.
Vries adds that he regret his wrong judgement and action for deserting the Brave Warriors Camp in preparation for the Namibia vs. Niger African Qualifying Match that took place in Windhoek at the Sam Nujoma Stadium last week.
“I am not proud for what I have done and I should have known better as a professional footballer applying my trade at Maritzburg United in the Professional Soccer League [PSL] in South Africa where I am a senior player and lately being considered as a regular in the starting line-up. I have done any of this while playing football in the Namibia Premier League [NPL] or under my current club Maritzburg United,” Vries states.
“I beg for your pardon and forgiveness and further pledge that I will never subject myself, be it at club level or National duty to any similar conduct.
Vries adds that the incident has tortured and psychologically punished him with a fair portion of sleepless nights.
Vries concludes that if the coach sees his way through to consider him for the COSAFA Castle Cup in progress, he will show and demonstrate without fail his loyalty.