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THE Young Warriors 8-1 thrashing against Angola in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying is an indictment of the continued failures of the country’s football structures, says Namibia’s head coach, Collin Benjamin.

Namibia went down 6-0 in Saturday’s second leg, a Young Warriors home tie, which was played in Luanda due to substandard sport infrastructure in the Land of the Brave.

Saturday’s chastening result followed a midweek 2-1 loss to their hosts.

“We were given a harsh soccer lesson,” a despondent Benjamin said at the weekend.

“After the first goal, we could not recover. But that’s the harsh realities of soccer. Match fitness you cannot buy,” he said.

“Nonetheless, the process means we go through these defeats. We will analyse this, we will try and do better and minimise our mistakes and look forward.”

The national teams are essentially expected to work miracles with players who have not played regular competitive football in over four years.

Benjamin gave an example of 18-year-old first-choice goalkeeper Nelly Rooi, who was 14 years old the last time Namibia had consistent and competitive football.

“We have to try to get our players in good shape so we are able to compete internationally, but we will definitely not put our heads in the sand. It’s part of the process. It’s gonna hurt, but these defeats will only make us stronger,” he said.

The lack of regular action blunts the progress of players, who, at under-23 level, should be ready for senior national team duty and not be struggling with the basics of the game.

But Benjamin understands he is working in an abnormal environment, given the never-ending disputes that have hamstrung the domestic game.

“Diamonds are moulded under heavy, rough circumstances. Maybe today, here in Luanda, with this scoreline, was one of these circumstances,” he said.

“Because you can only learn through defeats, and this is a heavy one. We have to analyse it. We have to see where we all went wrong and as a country fix ourselves.”