… Tigers drop first points
WINDHOEK – Round six of the MTC Premiership produced fewer goals that saw early pace-setters Tigers’ one hundred percent run brought to a premature end after being held to a goalless draw by FNB Orlando Pirates in the 2nd of a double header at the Sam Nujoma Stadium on Saturday evening.
It was a game of two contrasting styles with Pirates the more enterprising side as play was mostly confined to Tigers’ danger zone, but it was the log leaders who created the goal-scoring opportunities.
Ingwe almost took the lead against the run of play through Prashiasho Kabwe but the skillful youngster wasted two gilt-edge chances in succession, sandwiched by another waste when bulky striker Pandu Nekundi failed to convert from close range after some great work by man of the match Abasalom Limbondi.
The Ghosts enjoyed the lion’s share of ball possession but could not penetrate the watertight Tigers rearguard that was well marshalled by Merwyn Mbakera and Pekka Hamukwaya.
Pirates should have been a goal to the good on the stroke of halftime when Sammy Romosoeu skinned his marker alive before delivering an inch-perfect cross on the path of the unmarked Chikondi Likwemba, but the usually deadly Malawian import ballooned the ball into the sky with the goalmouth at his mercy.
Tigers came out a much better side at the resumption as they took the match to their fired-up opponents with the introduction of striker Benson Shilongo. Pirates also managed to fashion out a few goal-scoring chances but were badly let down by poor finishing with Nicky Musambani the chief culprit.
In the curtain raiser, Upee Ujaha’s first half strike was enough to steer Tura Magic to a hard fought 1-0 victory over LHU Blue Waters.
Basement sitters Rundu Chiefs and United Stars cancelled each other out in a goalless draw in the much-anticipated derby at the Rundu Stadium on Saturday. Eleven Arrows surrendered a 2-goal halftime lead, losing 2-3 against the league’s new boys PC Blue Boys in a coastal derby at the Kuisebmond Stadium in Walvis Bay.
Mapenzi Munawei and Reinhold Eiseb netted a goal apiece for the hosts before Jordan Haimbili reduced the deficit before further goals by Milton Chapo and Simon “Deco” Nekongo did the trick for the Swakopmunders.
Lanky striker Elvis Tjivasera, better known as Ruhere – ‘Porridge’ – in football circles, netted the decisive winning goal in African Stars’ 2-1 narrow win against hoodoo team Civics on Friday night to prolong under-pressure coach Woody Jacob’s lodging at Diaz House, at least for the time being.
The beanpole striker rattled the net in as many games after Quinton Kuruseb’s equalizer canceled out Jocelyn Kamatuka’s opener. Meanwhile, reigning champions Black Africa moved within 3 points of the summit, courtesy of a narrow 1-0 midweek triumph against luckless Ramblers.
By Carlos Kambaekwa