Windhoek -Brave Warriors Coach Ricardo Mannetti has congratulated the Namibian rugby team on their qualification for the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan. The former Brave Warriors midfield dynamo and current coach of the team said he was excited by the national rugby team's qualification for the sport's biggest showpiece. Namibia's qualification came as a result of their victory over Kenya in the Gold Cup a fortnight ago. It was that victory that left Mannetti with no option but to heap praise on the team for a job well done. “To qualify for a World Cup is a big achievement. They did us proud and me being a son of the soil, I am extremely happy for them. It is their 6th time to qualify for the event and I think this will help other sports codes to work very hard to follow in their footsteps” Mannetti said. Mannetti however understood that the playing field is not level when it comes to qualification for the World Cup - citing the route of rugby being an easy one compared to football. ” For Rugby, I think if you focus and plan it, it is easy to make it and like in the Gold Cup you need to play only four teams and if you win you are in the World Cup, unlike with us where you have to face 4 teams in round 1, another 4 in round 2, 3, up to 5 before you qualify. But we will try our utmost best to make it one day” he said. Mannetti and his injury-prone Brave Warriors team are currently in camp preparing for next weekend's 2019 ACON qualifier match against Zambia's Chipolopolo in Windhoek.