WINDHOEK – FNB Orlando Pirates wily mentor Ali ‘Mr Fix It’ Akan, is a man who normally walks the talk and still has some unfinished business with his former employers, as he leads his unpredictable but potentially dangerous Searobbers against African Stars in the 2nd of a double header at the Sam Nujoma Stadium tonight at 21h00.
The two traditonal Katutura rivals wil square off in the rescheduled match of the last 16 Bidvest Cup after the initial clash was washed out by torrential rains earlier this month. The Ghosts had the better of the proceddings against their bitter rivals in the opening round of the MTC Premiership and Akan will be out to inflict more misery on the club where he won a cup double last year, before leaving the club under a dark cloud following a fallout with the Reds hierarchy.
Resurgent Ramblers get the action underway in the curtain raiser with a potentialy winnable tie against lower division campaigners Kaizen Football Academy at 19h00. The Tunschel Street Boys have been enjoying a great vein of form of late and are unbeaten in their last 6 matches since parting ways with head coach Jerry Zimmer and will be a sure bet to be in the hat when the draw for the quarterfinals takes place. “Tough encounters are what makes football so exciting and we for one, as sponsors of this great football bonanza will not miss the action on Wednesday evening,” said Theo Mberirua of Director Commercial and Business Development at Bidvest Namibia.
Stars’ cagey mentor Woody Jacobs, said he expects a tough match against Pirates. “It’s always the case when we play Pirates, but if you ask me whether we are ready for it then we are definitely raring to go.” The youthful mentor said so far preparations have gone very well, despite the fact that the club has to juggle between a congested league fixture and cup assigments but reckons he has enough quality at his disposal to handle the challenges. Jacobs invites Reds supporters to come out in droves for this massive game. “Even though we lost against Tura Magic we are determined to make amends for that since we are the defending champions of this cup and we would love to retain it.”
By Carlos Kambaekwa