[t4b-ticker]

MTC Cup Sees Major Upsets

Home Archived MTC Cup Sees Major Upsets

By Kuvee Kangueehi OTJIWARONGO Major cup upsets continued this weekend as pre-tournament favorites and defending champions Civics FC crashed out of the lucrative Mobile Telecommunication Limited (MTC) Namibia Football Association (NFA) Cup on Saturday, at the J Stephanus Stadium in Keetmanshoop at the hands of Kinaco Minolta Eleven Arrows. The result did not only come as a shock as Arrows comfortably cruised 3-1 pass the mighty and two-time champions Civics, but also throws the competition wide open and every team will now have the belief that they can win it. Newly contracted KM Eleven Arrows coach Lucky Shipanga, who received some stick three weeks ago when his team lost against Blue Waters, was the man responsible for the giant killing act. Shipanga prior to the game indicated that because he had mastered a victory against Civics in a premier league encounter earlier, a second victory was not beyond his team especially with his star player Rudolf Bester on song. All eyes will now be on Shipanga and his youthful team as the competition enters the quarterfinals. In the match of the day at Otjiwarongo, Oshakati City pushed African Stars all the way to a penalty shootout as they tied at one-all after 90 minutes. Stars held their nerves in the penalty shootout and won 5-4 on penalties to book their place in the quarterfinals. Enjoying a lot of support at their second home ground the Mokati Stadium, Stars took the game to City and played with some neat passing. The Samba Boys dominated the match and hit the woodwork twice, once in the first half and then in the second half. With light showers making the playing surface a bit slippery, it was City who took the lead midway through the first half after some good work from Cascas Angula who was troubling the Stars defence all night. The goal injected more life into the game as Stars pushed for an equalizer while City were defending desperately. With the clock ticking, Stars committed more players forward and their pressure was rewarded in the 85th minute when Freedom Puriza scored the equalizer to send the game to a penalty shootout which Stars won 5-4. In other matches, the status quo was retained as Cymot SKW, Orlando Pirates, Black Africa, Mighty Gunners and Eleven Brothers recorded some comfortable victories. Black Africa’s Jerome Louis scored a hat trick as Black Africa cruised 5-1 pass Major Power. – Here are the full second round results of the MTC NFA Cup played on Saturday. Kinaco Minolta Eleven Arrows vs Civics 3-1 Cymot SKW vs Blue Boys 4-0 Orlando Pirates vs Tough Guys 9-0 Mighty Gunners vs Volcano 5-1 Eleven Brothers vs Rundu Chiefs 3-1 Black Africa vs Major Power 5-1 Windhoek Optics Ramblers vs Invincible 5-3 (penalty shootout) African Stars vs Fysal Oshakati City 5-4 (penalty shootout)