By Kuvee Kangueehi WINDHOEK MTC Namibia Premier League Champions Civics FC yesterday successfully retained the championship when they demolished Eleven Arrows 3-1 at the Kuisebmund Stadium in Walvis Bay. The Khomasdal side became half a million Namibian dollars richer as they scooped the biggest prize in Namibian football, and the current Civics team can comfortably claim to be dominating football in the country. The task for the reigning champions to retain the throne was made easier by Ramblers, who seem to be collapsing at the last hurdle. Ramblers lost both their games this weekend and thus Civics did not have to win any game this weekend to retain the league championship. Civics on Saturday played to a stalemate with Blue Waters and after Ramblers lost their game on Saturday, Civics only needed a draw against Eleven Arrows yesterday afternoon, but rubbed salt into the wounds of the other teams by clinching the title with a 3-1 victory. Speaking to New Era shortly after their victory, Civics captain Amos Shiyuka noted that winning the title this season was easier than last season. Shiyuka said the team enjoyed a comfort zone with a six-point lead at the top of the table compared to last year when the title was decided on the final day. “With three matches to go we needed only a single victory and with Ramblers losing it turns out that there was no need to win.” Meanwhile, Nampa reports that former Civics star and Namibian international midfielder Ricardo Mannetti has been sacked by South African Premier League side Bush Bucks. Mannetti was fired by the club after their match against Santos on 7 May and mystery surrounds the reasons for his sacking. On Friday, South African soccer magazine Kick-off’s web site reported Bucks Chief Operations Officer (COO) Mxolisi Sibam as saying that the break-up between Bucks and Mannetti was amicable. “We all reached a stage where we felt it was at the best of interests if we parted ways. There were no allegations against Ricardo whatsoever,” Sibam said. Mannetti’s contract with Bucks ends in a month’s time and Sibam said the club was committed to honouring his contract. Mannetti’s lawyer Fabian Pretorius said his client had initiated the termination of his contract because he wanted to pursue some business ventures. However, Mannetti presented another version saying he needed some time to relax before making a decision regarding his next move. “Of course, I am not happy to leave the club at this stage. I wanted to be part of the team, but there is nothing I could do,” Mannetti was quoted saying. Sibam said Mannetti was a crucial member of Bush Bucks’ team and the club had experienced no problems with him. Asked why they had to part ways with a player whom they regard as crucial in their fight for survival, Sibam said the reasons were ‘confidential and private’. Meanwhile, Bush Bucks are due to face Vasco de Gama on 21 May in the second of their Mvela Platinum play-offs semi-final. Bush Bucks lost the first encounter 0-2.