By Carlos Kambaekwa
WINDHOEK
Going into round 8 of the lucrative MTC Namibia Premiership come hell or high water there will be a new leader in the 12-team domestic elite league after tonight’s titanic clash between 3rd placed Black Africa and archrivals African Stars, who are lingering behind in 5th place.
The two Katutura giants lost both their opening matches in the 2007/2008 league campaign and were also bundled out of the FNB Knockout Cup, but both teams have since regrouped and are fresh from good wins over Fedics United and Civics respectively in last weekend’s matches.
The SKW Stadium in Olympia will be the centre of attraction this evening with the in-form Stars looking at dismantling the quartet of Eleven Arrows, Ramblers, Black Africa and SKW from the pedestal.
Victory for the Reds will put them in the driving seat while Africa only need a draw to hover above the other title contenders, at least for 24 hours, until action resumes again with all the other challengers back in action this coming weekend.
The Reds are fired up following last weekend’s convincing victory over defending champions Civics and go into tonight’s match as slight favourites to collect the much needed 3 points at stake that could see them leapfrog the joint leaders by a single point.
Smithley Engelbrecht’s young brigades will be out to prove that last weekend’s away victory over Fedics United was not another flash in the pan when they confront a somewhat depleted Stars team that will be minus the services of reliable lanky goal keeper Maxmillian Mbaeva, who is away on national duty with the Brave Warriors.
Former Brave Warriors’ veteran midfielder Congo Hindjou is a definite non-starter through a nagging groin injury while new recruit and former Chief Santos and Blue Waters’ striker Celestine Wasserfal is unavailable for selection because of undisclosed personal matters.
“We want to win and will settle for nothing less than maximum points as we want to stay in touch with the leaders before going into the Christmas break,” said Chacklas.
“This is a very young team that must still come to grips with the rigours of top flight football but what really impressed me is that these boys possess the hunger to compete and succeed at the highest level and have surprised many doubting Thomases including me to be quite honest,” echoed the former Black Africa goal poacher.
The defiant young mentor strongly believes his team has what it takes to challenge for the coveted league title and hinted that there will be absolute reinforcements when the transfer window opens again in January.
“We are looking at bringing in an experienced defender and a holding midfielder in addition to two strikers and a leftwing if we are to remain serious contenders for the elusive title,” ended Engelbrecht.
The two teams are weighing up equally to each other with two losses each with Black Africa slightly ahead in the winners column with four wins to Stars’ three while the former also take the stakes in matches drawn – one against two to be precise.