By Carlos Kambaekwa
WINDHOEK
Torrential rain came to the rescue of Sport Klub Windhoek and kept the MTC Namibia Premiership leaders firmly in the driving seat, at least for the time being.
The Germans looked dead and buried before their eagerly awaited clash against 2nd placed Ramblers was called off because of a waterlogged Ramblers pitch yesterday.
The top of the log clash started at frantic pace with the visitors forcing the home side on the back foot in the first 10 minutes and captain Arend von Stryk came tantalisingly close with a powerful header.
The lanky striker shook off the attention of his marker and Ramblers captain Michael “Dolam Tower” Pienaar and masterfully connected with Warren Neidel’s cleverly taken corner kick, but the keeper was equal to the task and tipped the goal-bound header over the crossbar.
Ramblers’ hard running midfielder Garry Keister broke the deadlock with a clinical finish, slightly against the run of play and the goal seemed to ignite the Tunchel Street boys who started playing with more purpose – launching several attacks into their opponents’ danger zone with Nelson “Dicky” Akwenye at the heart of Ramblers’ moves.
Veteran striker John Samson extended Rammies’ slender lead with a cheeky little back heel to fuse off any hopes of a comeback SKW might have entertained and from there on it was one-way traffic for the hosts as they created dozens of clear-cut chances but wayward shooting and greed got the better of Ramblers with Akwenye and Samson the chief culprits.
With torrential rain taking centre stage and lightning and thunder storms threatening to cause havoc to the safety of players, FIFA accredited referee Mathew Katjimune summoned both sets of players back to the comfort of their dressing rooms on the half hour mark with Ramblers having taken a healthy 2-goal advantage at that stage.
However, the crowd waited in vain as the players failed to resurface for the restart after Katjimune and his assistants, including the match commissioner, examined the wet pitch and declared it unsuitable to continue with play – much to the relief of the SKW technical team and their supporters.
The result left SKW exactly where they were – going into round eleven with 20 points from 10 matches with Ramblers a point adrift in second place from the same number of games.
Elsewhere, Orlando Pirates closed down on the leading pack and moved within two points of top spot on 18 points after a goal apiece from Frans de Muenda and Riaan Cloete gave the resurgent Buccaneers a well-deserved 2-Nil win over Dawid Snewe’s gutsy Mighty Gunners at the Sam Nujoma Stadium in Windhoek on Saturday.
The defeat left the men in uniform third from bottom and a mere two points away from safety.
Tigers failed to capitalise on home ground advantage and could only register a 1-all stalemate with the visiting KM Eleven Arrows in the second of a double header at the Sam Nujoma Stadium in Windhoek on Saturday.
In the day’s other action, there was some glimmer of hope for struggling coastal outfit APS Blue Waters as the coastal giants temporarily eased their relegation worries with a hard fought 1-Nil win over African Stars at the Kuisebmond Stadium at Walvis Bay Stadium.
The victory was Blue Waters’ first in their league campaign this season and the precious three points saw them moving within 2 points of league rookies Mighty Gunners on the Namibia Premier log standings with 7 points,
Defending champions Civics returned to winning ways with a comprehensive 3-Nil victory over basement residents Fedics United at the Keetmanshoop Stadium on Saturday.
The Civilians, still smarting from their last league defeat at the hands of surprise log leaders SKW, shot to 5th joint place alongside Eleven Arrows and are now within striking distance from the summit with only 3 points separating Ricardo Mannetti’s charges from the log leaders.
Black Africa livewire striker Jerome Louis returned to action after spending some time on the touchline through injury to do what he does best – scoring goals.
Louis found his name on the score sheet in his team’s rare away win over Oshakati City at Oshakati’s Independence Stadium yesterday.
Pint-sized striker Donovan Swarts returned the compliment to his striking partner with a goal of his own to give Africa a well deserved 2-Nil win, that saw them moving into third place on goal difference behind Ramblers with 19 points each but the Tunchel Street boys boasts a game in hand over their cross-town neighbours.