Windhoek
The stage has been set for a Dawid vs Goliath battle when the long drawn out MTC Premiership opens the curtain with a tie between last season’s surprise package Tura Magic and Katutura giants FNB Orlando Pirates.
Action gets underway at Windhoek’s Independence Stadium under floodlights on Friday evening at 20h00 for the first match of the 2015/2016 campaign.
Both teams have been very quiet in the transfer window, and while the Ghosts have lost a number of its stalwarts from last season, including strongly built Zimbabwean fullback Lukson Kaisa, the Magicians almost keep the same players that propelled the team to a modest third place last season.
The match promises to have all the required ingredients of a real humdinger, with Wire Shipanga’s youthful side favourites to collect the maximum points at stake.
The ambitious Katutura outfit has vigorously encroached domestic football with gutso and in the process dismantled the big four tradition – having toppled both Pirates and Tigers from the pedestal.
However, Pirates is a big team with a rich tradition and those who are prepared to write their obituary would be better advised to do so at their own peril.
With Namibia’s most decorated football coach Ali ‘Mr Fix It’ Akan back as technical director – the Ghosts’ followers cannot be faulted to dream that this will be their season.
Magic’s top goal scorer of last season Pikes Shalulile is now with South African second tier outfit Highlands Park, and with fellow marksman Ita Keimuine troubled by an assortment of niggling g injuries, the Magicians could be found wanting in the final quarter.
Much travelled club-less winger Lovers Kamuhanga has been reportedly training with the club and his arrival could just be what the good doctor ordered. The lethal sharpshooter has seen his career stalled by injuries, but when in form the left-footed winger could be a thorn in the flesh of any defence, if given space.