By Carlos Kambaekwa
WINDHOEK
Sixth-placed Orlando Pirates will be looking at closing the gap between the leading pack when the MTC Namibia Premiership resumes tomorrow following last weekend’s enforced breather from league activities, with all members in the 12-team elite league finding themselves entangled in the first round of the lucrative MTC NFA Cup competition.
Following back to back wins over coastal giants APS Blue Waters and KM Eleven Arrows respectively in their last league outings, the Buccaneers can not be faulted for eyeing a top four finish when the curtain comes down on the league’s first round activities this weekend.
The Ghosts welcome Dawid Snewe’s Mighty Gunners in the first of a double header billing at the Sam Nujoma Stadium in Katutura tomorrow at 16h00, with seventh placed Tigers entertaining KM Eleven Arrows in the last match of the day at 18h00.
APS Blue Waters, buoyed by last weekend’s narrow win over lowly Vietnam Rangers in the MTC NFA knock-out cup competition, are at home to African Stars at the Kuisebmond Stadium in Walvis Bay at 18h00.
The coastal giants are languishing dangerously at the foot of the table and need to start collecting maximum points if they are to escape the dreaded relegation axe hovering over them.
The low-flying Birds are yet to win a single match in the league this season and their aspiration of bringing an end to a string of poor results could be halted, at least for the time being, as they face a resurgent African Stars outfit in what promises to be the pick of tomorrow’s action.
With gifted midfielder and often short-fused Jasmin “Ninja” Karongee finally out of his shell – many teams can expect little mercy from Gilbert Rwasoka’s young brigade who seem to have struck the right chord at the most appropriate time.
Basement residents Fedics United play host to a weakened Civics outfit at the Keetmanshoop Stadium in the southern capital tomorrow at 18h00.
The defending champions are lingering in unfamiliar territory on the MTC Namibia Premier League after an assortment of mixed results, which saw the once mighty Civilians languishing in 8th place.
The Civilians’ chances of retaining the coveted cup which they won over the last three consecutive seasons have been further dented by the sudden departure of the club’s leading goal scorer William Chilufwya and hard running midfielder Brian Gurirab.
The pair was snapped up by Angolan professional outfit Premeiro De Maio and left the country yesterday to start their professional careers with the Angolan side.
Sunday sees the pick of the weekend’s action with second placed Ramblers having a date with log leaders Sport Klub Windhoek at the Ramblers field in Pionierspark at 16h00.
Early pace setters Black Africa travel up north to tackle 9th placed Oshakati City at the town’s Independence Stadium at 15h00 to complete the weekend’s lineup.