Stefanus Nambara

NKURENKURU – Nkurenkuru-based outfit Chief Sitentu Football Club won the Kavango West Second Division football league after overcoming their travelling partner LK United last Saturday.

The only goal scored in the match by Paulinus Karungurungu was enough to clinch the title on the last day of the league. 

They finished the league with 44 points, two points above runner-up Mayenzere, who thrashed relegated Wild Star 3-1.

Paulus Hausiku, who led the team to bragging rights in his first season as coach, said the team is excited about their victory and that it is a dream come true. 

“When you are in a competition and you win it, you feel so great,” Hausiku said.

He extended his appreciation to the management, technical team, players and the fans. 

He said, despite winning the league, it was not a walk in the park for them.

“This was a very tough season. Even the relegated teams Wild Stars drew with us at home, and Super Eleven beat us at home,” the coach said.

He attributed the team’s success to dedication and hard work.

Their win does not, however, guarantee them automatic promotion to the North-East stream first division league. 

They have promotional play-offs to go through, where they will face the champions of the Oshikoto region Gerros Uri-khob Football Academy, Omafo United from the Ohangwena region, Rundu Unam from Kavango East and Black Hawks from the Zambezi region. 

The play-offs are scheduled for this coming weekend.

Albeit acknowledging that it is not going to be an easy game for them, Hausiku is determined to secure a spot in the first division league.

“We are making sure that the boys get fit. We are improving on some technicalities where we lacked and rectifying some mistakes,” he said.

“I’m going to fight for the pride of the team and the region because this is not about Chief Sitentu anymore, but Kavango West,” he added.

Meanwhile, the team’s captain Johannes Kakuni expressed gratitude to his fellow players’ unwavering commitment and that of the coach. 

He added that they are training hard because they want to win the play-offs.

Should Chief Sitentu secure a spot in the north-east stream first division football league, they will join another Nkurenkuru-based outfit, KK United.

*Stefanus Nambara is an information officer at the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology, Kavango West.