Namibia coach on the good and bad at COSAFA Cup 2024

The Brave Warriors went all the way to the last fixture of the regional tournament for the second time in two years, but were completely outplayed by The Palancas Negras at the Nelson Mandela Bay in Gqeberha.

Benjamin reacted to the heavy defeat.

"As much as I say that rather one times 5-0 than five times 1-0, it still where you say it's a bit unfair because we didn't deserve all of it but when it's on paper, it's goals that were scored,” Benjamin said.

“So, we just have to learn from it, it's positive honestly for me, for us to see how Romeo [Kasume] develop, Tjipe Karuuombe now I know that if something is to happen to Riaan Hanamub on the left back, I can put him in without thinking.”

READ: Pedro Conçalves’s COSAFA Cup presence vindicated by title

The 45-year-old mentor believes he now has depth ahead of the heavy international calendar in the coming months.

"And these are the positives that I'm taking from it, the different players. We're gonna go into the same vein where we're trying and we're learning and the boys are learning,” the coach explained.

“David Ndeunyema up there is a huge filler, he normally bullies everybody in the league back home because of his huge statue but now he knows that, ow there's work to do against the ball. Those are the positives that I'm taking away from this.”

Benjamin also revealed the conversation in the dressing room after the cup final loss.

"I told my boys they should not let their heads hang because they did us proud. They're responsible for a nation, a Namibian nation coming together and saying, we are gonna watch the Brave Warriors.

“Being pride to them, people that normally don't have anything to do with football come together because of these boys. So, we have to commend them.

“We got a call from the first office in the country, the president, his excellency Doctor Mbumba [Nangolo] gives us a call saying that he's been watching us and following our way here at the final. It gives pride, it gives hope and it actually says that you're doing something right because presidents don't call losers."