WINDHOEK – Tigers’ title aspirations were dealt a major blow when their find of the season Lloydt Kazapua suffered a serious injury at training – a day after the lanky shot stopper made his much anticipated debut for the Brave Warriors in the 1-all draw against Tanzania in an international friendly last Wednesday.
The acrobatic 24-year-old net guard has been in the form of his life after moving to the Donkerhoek outfit from African Stars at the start of the current MTC Premiership campaign.
His imposing presence between the sticks has stabilized Tigers’ usually suspect defence and many football pundits have accredited the team’s good vein of form that has seen them topping the log standings for an extended period to the young goalie’s excellent showing between the sticks.
He kept five clean sheets in the current term – prompting Warriors mentor Ricardo Mannetti to call him up for the international warm-up against Ghana last December, when he came on as a second half substitute.
Since joining Tigers, Kazapua has played in all matches but the 2-all draw against United Stars and last weekend’s shock 3-2 defeat against the visiting LHU Blue Waters.
The beanpole goalie joined boyhood team Stars at the age of 16 in 2007 and has been the understudy to first choice goalkeeper Max ‘Slimkat’ Mbaeva.
Though he managed to dislodge Mbaeva in the 2012/2013 season under Ali Akan’s rotation system – the youngster got fed up with his lack of regular game time and when former coach Bobby Samaria came calling, he jumped at the opportunity of playing regularly in the blue and white strip of title-chasing Tigers.
By Carlos Kambaekwa