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Civics Can Expect a Bruising Return

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By Kuvee Kangueehi WINDHOEK The Buschschule Civics FC club director Helmuth Scharnowksi believes that his club is not home and dry yet despite hammering Angolan Champions, GD Segrada Esperanza 4-0 in the first leg of African Champions League preliminary round match at the Independence Stadium. The MTC Namibia’s Premier soccer league champions will meet the Angolans in a fortnight and Scharnowski is very much aware of the threat GD Segrada Esperanza could pose for his side to go through to the second round. ” The first half of the job has been completed but we are facing a tricky trip to Angola and anything can happen.” He noted that because of the scoreline he knows what type of game to expect from the Angolans and his side will prepare properly for the match. ” They will go out on full attack and we will try and hit them on the break and I am sure we can do that well given the players we have in the squad.” The director however was disappointed that two of his key players who will be crucial for the match are injured and are major doubts for the return leg. ” My captain Amos Shiyuka and Mentos Hipondoka picked up injuries and we are likely to be light in our defence.” Scharnowski is also delighted that the match will take place in Luanda, which is not Esperanza’s home ground, and he hopes that Civics can get some supporters from football fans that do not support Esperanza. ” Many Angolans are now eager for the team which beat their champions and I am confident the stadium will be packed.” The club director said he hopes to play a friendly in Angola before the main match. Meanwhile in South Africa Moroka Swallows, which is home to three Namibian internationals, namely, Mohammed Ouseb, George Hummel and Heinrico Botes suffered the biggest defeat this season against Quinton Jacobs’ side Ajax Cape Town. The latter gave Moroka Swallows a 5-1 drubbing in a Castle Premiership match played at the Orlando Stadium on Sunday afternoon. Swallows started the better side, but it was Ajax who looked the hungrier of the two teams. The Birds should have scored the game’s first goal of the match when they were awarded a freekick just outside the Ajax box. Innocent Chikoya, however, wasted the opportunity by kicking aimlessly over the crossbar. Swallows were to be punished for this miss in the ninth minute when Brent Carelse scored from a Seuntjie Motlhajwa cross. The home side then took the game to Ajax, but they failed to penetrate the solid Warriors defence led by goalkeeper Moeneeb Josephs. Tseu Mokoro broke through in the 42nd minute, but his shot was saved by Josephs and Thembinkosi Fanteni then rubbed more salt into their wounds when he increased Ajax’s lead after a Swallows defensive blunder on the stroke of half-time. In the second half, the Birds coach introduced Bongani Mbele and Hareaipha Marumo for Chikoya and Dennis Lota respectively. These two changes seemed to change Swallows’ fortune, as the Birds started dominating the game, but Josephs’ heroics again prevented them from opening their account. With time running out, Ajax came back into the game and it came as no surprise when they got their third goal through Franklin Cale in the 74th minute. Five minutes later, Fanteni made the score 4-0 for Ajax, before Cale also completed his brace in the 82nd minute to seal a crushing victory for Ajax. Swallows, however, got their consolation goal when Marumo scored with a header from a Mbele cross in the 90th minute, but it was too little too late for the home team. – Additional reporting psl website.