… Bosses look to coast for full house
WINDHOEK – It’s official, what was once seen as the best supported sport in the land of the brave, i.e. football, can’t seem to escape the massive encroachment on its turf as witnessed by the ever growing popularity and emergence of professional boxing – so football has finally swallowed its pride and accepted to live in the shadow of the leather traders, at least for the time being.
Sensing a poor turnout for this weekend’s final match in the 2nd edition of the annual Namibia Premier League (NPL) League Cup between unfashionable outfits Eleven Arrows and Tura Magic – organizers of the tourney resolved to switch the match venue to the Kuisebmond Stadium in Walvis Bay on Saturday.
Insiders confirmed to New Era Sport that since the match clashes with this weekend’s much-anticipated boxing bonanza featuring the country’s leading professional boxers at the Ramatex Hall in Windhoek, there were strong fears that neutral sports fans would rather opt to spend their hard earned money watching boxers trading blows than having their eyes glued on footballers chasing an inflated piece of leather.
And Windhoek will be a big hive of sporting activity this weekend with rugby also taking centre stage across town when reigning Namibian champions FNB Western Suburbs defend their league title against the equally dangerous Rehoboth Rugby Club at the Hage Geingob Stadium on Saturday.
Football authorities facing defeat at the prospect of playing what is meant to be the league’s flagship cup competition in front of empty seats decided to move the match to the coastal town of Walvis Bay since both finalists are not considered to be crowd pullers in genuine football terms.
By Carlos Kambaekwa