In a thrilling weekend of Premier League football, defending champions African Stars secured a hard-fought victory, defeating Life Fighters 1-0 and claiming the top spot in the league.

Meanwhile, Young Brazilians showcased their skills, clinching maximum points with a 4-3 triumph over newly promoted Eeshoke Chula Chula at the Keetmanshoop Sports Stadium.

The NPFL action commenced on Friday, with Ongos FC facing Okahandja United in a closely contested match that ended in a 1-0 victory for United.

This win propelled Okahandja United to 14 points in the league standings. Another fixture on the same day saw Khomas Nampol play to a 1-all draw against Mighty Gunners. Speaking post-match, Fortune Morne Eichab, the head coach of Khomas Nampol, acknowledged the tough nature of the game, expressing contentment with securing a point despite not achieving the desired result.

“It was a tough match; we couldn’t play according to how we wanted due to different factors, such as the layoff for too long impacting our performance. But we also understand how tough Gunners are; they have been in the top five for the past five years, showcasing their quality as a team,” said Eichab. “In football, you should never be happy with anything, but we take the point and run with it. Heading forward, we fight for maximum points, and we hope to improve our performance.”

On Saturday, African Stars continued their winning streak with a 1-0 victory over Life Fighters, securing their place at the summit of the league. Meanwhile, Tigers and Julinho Sporting played to a 1-all draw at Independence Stadium, and Civics shared the spoils with newly promoted Okakarara Young Warriors via a 1-1 stalemate.

In another closely contested fixture, Young Africans from Gobabis played to a stalemate against the coastal outfit Blue Waters. The weekend’s matches showcased the competitive spirit of the teams and set the stage for an exciting and unpredictable Premier League season.

- mkambukwe@nepc.com.na