New Era Newspaper

New Era Epaper
Icon Collap
...
Home / Club House Gossip

Club House Gossip

2015-04-02  Staff Report 2

Club House Gossip
African Stars The Reds remain on course for an unprecedented rare cup double after reaching the semifinals of the lucrative BidVest Cup for the 3rd consecutive season. Former goalkeeper Max ‘Slimkat’ Mbaeva is rated among the finest shot stoppers in the highly competitive National First Division (NDF) in neighbouring South Africa. Benfica Having fallen way back in the pecking order of the MTC Premiership log standings, Fika have all but conceded defeat with a couple of matches remaining and are preparing for life back in familiar territory. Meanwhile, bitter rivals Chief Santos are eyeing a return to topflight football and have vowed to fight tooth and nail to gain promotion to the MTC Premiership either by hook or by crook. Black Africa Still licking their wounds following their quarterfinal exit inflicted by bitter rivals FNB Orlando Pirates – the Lively Lions turn their attention to the defence of their league title and could not have asked for a better platform than tonight’s league clash against their BidVest Cup conquerors. Club boss and local business mogul Ranga Haikali deserves a pat on the back for his generosity by sponsoring full playing gear to lower division campaigners Bingo Football Club. The brother set the trend and other clubs must now follow suit and try to emulate Haikali’s charitable gesture. Patriotism will be set aside at least for the time being when Jerome ‘the Crocodile’ Louis squares off against his compatriot Benson Shilongo in the final of the popular Mascon Cup between Township Rollers and Gaborone United in the Botswana capital on Saturday. Blue Waters Following their early elimination from the BidVest Cup, the Birds will keep themselves occupied through training sessions under the mentorship of caretaker coach and former blue-eyed-boy Armando Pedro. Reports suggest club management is monitoring the situation very closely with the view to making the Angolan import’s stint permanently. Citizens The Citizens rank amongst the best-organized clubs in the country’s topflight league having put in place commendable structures on how a football club in a professional setup should be administered. The league’s new boys have also acquired their own transport – leaving their more fancied competitors green with envy. The club is among the very first local clubs to have started with the implementation of the FIFA club licensing system. Civics The Civilians mourn the death of another player after news of the shock and untimely passing of former midfielder Mentos Hipondoka junior. The stocky midfielder succumbed to a vicious heart attack in Windhoek earlier this week. The Civilians are mired in an unexplained curse losing some of their best playing personnel to death such as Pekara Kaaheke, Lucas ‘Shoes’ Orr, Victor Helu, Patrick Jaegger, Scural Klaaste, Rex English, Richard Ventura and club director Dr Vladimara Pilmanova. FNB Eleven Arrows After escaping relegation by the skin of their teeth last season, the seasiders are back to serious business. Arrows carved themselves a place in the semifinals of the lucrative BidVest Cup at the expense of Citizens. On loan striker Papi Kavezembi seems to have rediscovered the kind of form that made him a potential super star during his formative years in the junior ranks. FNB Orlando Pirates The Ghosts are back to winning ways and fancy their chances of inflicting another injury to bitter rivals BA when the two Katutura giants lock horns in what promises to be an intriguing MTC Premiership clash of the titans tonight. Hot striker Nicky ‘Tornado’ Musambani is improving by each game and could just be the catalyst once again after the leg-weary lethal goal-poacher returning from national duty a couple of hours ago, came off the substitutes’ bench to score a classic winner in last weekend’s dress rehearsal. Julihno Sporting The imminent return of the town’s glamour football club Rundu Chiefs to the MTC Premiership is likely to galvanize cross-town rivals Julihno jacking up their act in a desperate effort to preserve their Premiership status. Nelson Louis’ franchise is dicing with danger lingering dangerously in the relegation zone and could lose their premiership status if decent results are not quickly manufactured. Mighty Gunners The men in camouflaged uniform await Black Africa with bated breath as they take a one-goal deficit in their replay tie against reigning league champions BA at the Mokati Stadium in Otjiwarongo on Saturday. Against all forms of conventional wisdom, the blundering NPL strangely ordered a replay with the 1-0 score line staying put after the original match was abandoned halfway as a result of an unforeseeable heavy downpour. Tigers Inweinyama has been hit by double tragedy as the oldest football club in Namibia mourns the death of former stalwart defender Zacks Ipinge and Mentos Hipondoka junior. The pair took a bow from the game of life earlier this week. Hipondoka was the elder son of Tigers’ staunch supporter Sii Selma Hipondoka. The deceased was the son of former Tigers winger Sekulu ‘Superstar’ Hipondoka, elder brother to Mentos senior (Metuu). In-form dreadlocked striker Benson Shilongo will lead the firing line for his Botswana club Gaborone United in the final of the Mascom Top 8 Cup against Jerome Louis’ Township Rollers this weekend. Tura Magic The club could have their hands full in holding on to reliable centre back Tebs Lombard with reports suggesting some of the top guns are getting ready to dangle a juicy carrot in the boy’s face to lure the young tall defender to their nests. Tebs is an excellent reader of the game and can be easily placed in the same category as former Three Lions (England) cool as a cucumber centre back Des Walker. Surely, the boy should not struggle to find suitors should he decide to leave at the end of the current term. Magic has received kudos from the NFA for its commitment and drive to implement the much aligned FIFA licensing system.
2015-04-02  Staff Report 2

Tags: Khomas
Share on social media