SWAKOPMUND – Civics Football Club coach Jeremy Zimmer said it is a great feeling to win a cup again after more than 10 years without any silverware.
The Khomasdal outfit was crowned MTC NFA Cup Aweh champions on Saturday after a thrilling 3-2 final against Mighty Gunners.
“It wasn’t an easy game. Gunners were a strong side throughout the entire match – but fortunately, we managed to come out as winners. I thank my players and the entire coaching staff for a great job. It’s a great feeling to win a title again – and we would like to build on the momentum and go with it into the league,” Zimmer told New Era Sport.
They have now won the football association cup for the third time after lifting it in 2003 and 2008.
Civics, through playmaker Obry Amseb, took the lead in the early minutes of the game; however, Vernon Klazen from Gunners responded shortly afterwards.
Shortly before halftime, Quinton Kuruseb took the lead for Civics again with a beautiful goal – much to the delight of their supporters who travelled to the coast to witness the final.
Marcel Papama stretched Civics’ lead further in the early minutes of the second half, and continued to play a defensive game, leaving Gunners pondering for their second goal.
The second goal eventually came for the Otjiwarongo-based side through substitute Shivolo Mutubulwa – and they continued to attack in desperate attempts to equalise until the final whistle blew.
Meanwhile, Gunners Gebhardt Hengari told this publication they could not capitalise on their chances, but was, however, happy with the team’s effort.
“The game went well; we were very much in control of the game, but we were unfortunate that we made very bad errors in our defense, which caused us to concede soft goals. I’m happy with my team’s effort in trying to get back in the game, but it was too little too late,” he said.
Civics walked off the field with a whopping N$500 000, while Gunners bagged N$250 000.
As third-place winners, Blue Waters took home N$150 000 and Young African N$100 000 for their fourth place.
Meanwhile, Gunners’ skipper Olsen Ameb Asser Hara-Amseb were named player of the cup and top goal scorer with seven goals, respectively, while Civics goalkeeper Viril Namaseb was named goalkeeper of the cup.
– Additional reporting by Nampa