WINDHOEK – The title race for the lucrative MTC Premiership has been thrown wide open after both title chasing Black Africa and Tigers stumbled on the decisive home straight in round 17.
Tigers failed to capitalize on their nearest rivals Black Africa’s failure to garner maximum point against a resolute Ramblers in midweek action that saw the Namibian champions come from a goal down to snatch a lucky draw against the much improved Tunschell Street Boys in a 1-all stalemate. Zimbabwean import Protash Kabwe gifted Ingweinyama the lead in the first half before a goal apiece via the boots of Luckson Kaisa and Marcelo wrestled the lead from Bobby Samaria’s charges. Inspired by their slender lead, Ali Akan’s fired up youthful brigade soldiered forward pretty much unchecked and held on for a well-deserved 2-1 victory to ignite their fragile title aspirations.
Doubtlessly the Premier league’s most outstanding player in the current term, Kabwe turned from hero to villain when he thundered his spot-kick against the framework that could have levelled matters and earned the Donkerhoek outfit a share of the spoils. Elsewhere, LHU Blue Waters kept their good form of late intact with a hard earned 2-1 win over Tura Magic at the Kuisebmund Stadium in Walvis Bay on Saturday. The seasiders seem to be enjoying a new lease of life under the stewardship of former striker, Paulus ‘Wire’ Shipanga, who has remarkably lifted the club into a respectable mid-table position since he took over the reigns halfway through the season. The much-improved Birds opened the lead through Johannes Nambuli before Papi Kavezembi levelled the scoreboard with a clinical finish.
However, Tura’s joy was to be short-lived as free-scoring Nigerian import Edon Dominique netted in as many games to restore the hosts’ slender lead. And that’s how it remained: Blue Waters 2-1 Tura Magic. In a surprise turn of events, MTC Premiership relegation-haunted Rundu Chiefs scored two unanswered goals against cross-town rivals United Stars to earn the bragging rights of the northeastern enclave. African Stars revived their wobbling title hopes with an unconvincing 1-0 triumph over a stubborn Civics side in the only Premiership tie played under floodlights on a chilly Friday evening at the Sam Nujoma Stadium. Gangling striker Ferdie Karongee scored the only goal in the dying minutes of the match amidst heavy protest from the Civilians bench who sought to have the goal nullified and claiming Karongee was in an offside position.
By Carlos Kambaekwa