Windhoek
The diminutive Brave Warriors and Bidvest Wits midfielder, Wangu Gome, on Saturday delivered a sterling performance to help Wits secure a 3-0 win over Seychelles club Light Stars in the first leg of their CAF Confederation Cup tie.
The Namibian international, who was named Council of Southern Africa Football Associations (COSAFA) Cup Player of the Tournament at last year’s event, on Saturday got a serious taste of continental action when he featured in the starting line-up in Wits’ 3-0 victory against Light Stars.
The Clever Boys – as Wits is affectionately known – netted in the seventh minute through veteran midfielder Dillon Sheppard, before doubling that lead on 25 minutes, with Sibusiso Vilakazi this time finding the back of the net.
Heading to the hour-mark, defender Markus Lecki stretched Wits’ lead when he found the back of the net, finishing it from a corner.
Although Gome was later replaced to make way for the highly experienced striker, Elias Pelembe, the Brave Warriors midfield maestro gave good account of himself and was a force to be reckoned with among his teammates – given it was his first opportunity to represent his South African premiership club at such a highly competitive level.
Former Brave Warriors veteran striker and club mate Henrico Botes did not feature in Saturday’s match.
Still in the South African premiership, the Brave Warriors pair of Max Mbaeva and Deon Hotto also capped off a great weekend with a 2-1 win over Polokwane City in a match played at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane – also on Saturday.
Compatriot and teammate Chris Katjiukua did not feature in the game.
Although he was also on the bench, Brave Warriors goalkeeper Virgil Vries watched closely as his club, Maritzburg United, concluded the weekend on a somewhat positive note when they played to a 1-all draw against Platinum Stars.
Evans Rusike cancelled out City’s Robert Ng’ambi’s opener to help United claim their equal share of points at Harry Gwala Stadium in Pietermaritzburg.
Vries has not seen much game time since the arrival of coach Ernst Middendorf, who singled him out for the team’s poor performance. The replacement goalkeeper, however, does not seem to be helping much, as United remain at the bottom of the league table.
On a losing note, Brave Warriors captain Stigga Ketjijere and Dudes Mwedihanga’s University of Pretoria team (AmaTuks) suffered a 2-0 defeat against Supersport United on Sunday at Lucas Moripe Stadium in Pretoria. Both Ketjijere and Mwedihanga featured in the match.
Meanwhile, Hendrik Somaeb and Da Costa Angula’s Free State Stars also finished the weekend on a sour note, losing 1-0 against Jomo Cosmos in a match played at Olën Park in Potchefstroom on Sunday.
Unlike Somaeb, who has made it into the startling lineup on a few occasions, Angula is struggling to make his much anticipated return to action as he is reportedly still nursing an injury.
In the South African First Division, Namibian striker Peter Shalulile’s Highlands Park team on Friday secured a 2-1 win over Santos FC, while former Brave Warriors striker Rudolf Bester’s Moroka Swallows on Saturday suffered a 2-1 defeat to Mthatha Bucks.
Brave Warriors player Petrus Shitembi also endured a rude awakening as his club, Amazulu, were beaten 3-1 by Mbombela United. The Namibian midfielder was not in the starting line-up, but made an impact as soon he was brought onto the field.
In the Botswana premiership, Brave Warriors striker Benson Shilongo scored again for Gaborone United as they defeated Police Eleven 1-0. Shilongo scored his goal in the 80th minute of the match.
– Additional source: thrupass.com.na