WINDHOEK – With a gulf of four points between MTC Premiership leaders Tigers and old nemesis African Stars – tonight’s potential title decider between the two traditional rivals promises plenty of fireworks.
For the very first time in as many years, the Katutura glamour football club goes into the tie at the Sam Nujoma Stadium as underdogs, that if Tigers’ impressive form of late is anything to go by.
The Reds are trailing the in-form Shandumbala Boys by four points and are marooned in 4th position on the log standings. However, the Diaz House settlers are very much aware that defeat against the unbeaten log leaders could all but defuse their title aspirations.
Both coaches on the opposite sides, Bobby Samaria (Tigers) and Woody Jacobs (Stars) had contrasting stints with either club and would like to settle for nothing less than putting one over their former paymasters.
The expected thousands of Stars supporters still have fond memories of their love/hate relationship with the “Little General”, as Samaria was affectionately known during an illustrious playing career with Black Africa.
In only his first season with the Reds, Samaria warmed himself to the hearts of Stars followers when he delivered the club’s first league title in over a decade. He followed that up with a Cup double the following season but fell by the wayside when he failed to extend his good run in the subsequent season, which ended prematurely.
Ingweinyama started their assault in the current term like a house on fire and have gone eight matches unbeaten, sandwiched by two draws against fellow title contenders FNB Orlando Pirates and Black Africa but tonight’s pick of the round 9 encounters against their old rivals could go a long way to determine the ultimate destination of the coveted league title.
To the contrary, Jacobs had an unsuccessful spell with Tigers but the youthful mentor has since climbed the ladder and is regarded as one of the shrewdest football coaches in the business.
In other league action, reigning Namibian champions Black Africa are at sea level to confront much-improved PC Blue Boys at the Vineta Stadium in Swalopmund tomorrow afternoon.
Bottom club Rundu Chiefs entertain fellow strugglers Eleven Arrows at the Rundu Sports Stadium while LHU Blue Waters welcome Ali Akan’s Pirates at the Kuisebmond Stadium in Walvis Bay.
Civics greet the league’s new boys United Stars, in the curtain raiser of a double header at the Sam Nujoma Stadium, before Tura Magic square off against relegation-threatened Ramblers in the main match at 19h00 to conclude this year’s line-up. Unless otherwise stated, all matches start at 16h00 sharp.
In mid week action, a last gasp headed goal by Civics’ lanky striker, Quinton Kuruseb, cancelled out Papi Kavezembi’s opener to give the Civilians a share of the spoils (1-1) against Tura Magic at the Sam Nujoma Stadium.
By Carlos Kambaekwa