Namibia head coach Collin Benjamin has reacted to Peter Shalulile breaking his 643-day goal scoring drought on the international stage.
The Namibia skipper scored in the side’s 1-1 Group H draw in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Equatorial Guinea in Polokwane on Monday.
- ALSO READ: Namibia Coach Hails Pirates Star After Vital Draw
- Former Chiefs Striker Scores Brace In WC Qualifiers
This was the first time he scored for Namibia in almost two years, with his last goal dating back to 20 June 2023 in a 2-3 defeat to Burundi.
The result saw the Brave Warriors stay in second position in the group with 12 points, four points from leaders Tunisia after six matches.
Benjamin says he is happy for his captain and the goal will increase the Mamelodi Sundowns man’s value in the team which already goes beyond the pitch and scoring.
“The value that Peter Shalulile brings to the team is going to amplify it again,” Benjamin answered iDiski Times when asked about the striker breaking his duck.
“Absolute professional, absolute patriotic and a leader on and off the field. He’s the first one that carries bags into a bus [out] off the airport and all of these things off the field that he does. It’s par excellence.
“But then on scoring because he’s got the quality he’s really a good player and I mean, you in South Africa can attest to that. The last game we played against Malawi it was an assist from him. So the value is much more than just for him to score goals.
“Peter Shalulile on the field, the opponent has it that [in their mind] we have to be careful and that’s already a plus that a Prins [Tjiueza], a Joslin [Kamatuka] and whoever is in those positions can then play off him.
“So Peter Shalulile is Namibian and is proud to be it and we are very happy to have him. We wish him all the best and hopefully that record [PSL record] is not going to stay too long.”
Shalulile is currently chasing the PSL all-time scorer record set by South African legend Siyabonga Nomvethe. Benjamin says everyone in Namibia is praying for the 31-year-old who is just three goals shy of breaking it.
“What I think about that is the same view that every Namibian, I think we are now at 3 million Namibians, are thinking and waiting and praying. They pray all of them,” added Benjamin.
“And obviously we all know it just a matter of time and also the space that he is in there. I think we wish him the best.”
