WINDHOEK – Katutura glamour football club and reigning Bidvest Cup champions African Stars saw off a stubborn Citizens outfit 3-2 in the dreaded penalty shootout following a goalless stalemate at the Sam Nujoma Stadium in Windhoek on Saturday.
Stars walked way with N$550 000, while Citizens had to be satisfied with N$250 000. The much-anticipated Bidvest Cup final ended goalless after the regulation time of 90 minutes and 30 minutes added time. The defending champions dominated proceedings in the see saw affair against the lower division campaigners, but in all fairness, Citizens gave their more illustrious opponents a decent run for their money. It was a typical cup match where no quarter was asked or given with both sets of defenses giving nothing away. Woody Jacob’s brigade took the game by the scruff of the neck, but found the well-oiled Citizens rearguard, in particular shot-stopper Imms Immanuel, in an uncompromising mood. At the other end, his opposite number Max ‘Slimkat’ Mbaeva, was barely called into action, despite the Citizens asking lots of questions with some silky play across the field of play.
After a goalless first half, the teams finally opened up by exchanging frequent visits into each other’s danger zones, only to be thwarted by excellent goalkeeping by both goalkeepers. Sensing danger, Jacobs hauled off the ineffective Gazza Kazeurua and Cameroonian holding midfielder Edy Magoumou and unleashed the attack minded pair of Boetikie Seibeb and Ninja Karongee, while Asprilla Wermann also made way for beanpole striker Elvis ‘Porridge’ Tjivasera. The move immediately paid dividends as the Reds put up camp in their opponent’s danger zone, only to be let down by poor finishing. Tjivasera’s half volley from close range found the back of the net after the gangling striker connected with Guti Korukuve’s tantalizing cross, but the goal was correctly ruled offside.
Citizens however were not to be cowed by the occasion and had the appreciative crowd on the edge of their seats with some neat passing and excellent ball retention that made their more fancied opponents look like beginners at times.
Osvaldo Vries played a blinder in the middle of the park and showed maturity way belying his rookie tag, coming out tops in many of the battles against Stars highly rated midfield protégé McBride Ndjavera, who endured a poor game by his own standards.
Defender Freedom Puriza missed a sitter deep into extra time with the goal at his mercy, while Tjivasera’s misdirected diving header flew past the framework when it appeared much easier to score than miss.
With neither team managing to get its name on the score sheet after the regulation time of 90 minutes, the tie went into extra time and subsequently a penalty shootout. The hero of the penalty shootout was doubtlessly the purple haired shot stopper of Stars Slimkat, who guessed correctly to prevent Tsiki Somseb’s last spot kick.
By Carlos Kambaekwa
Both Stars defenders Freedom Puriza (saved) and Pat-Nevin Uanivi (missed) failed to convert their spot kicks with Seibeb, Riaan Cloete and Ferdinand Karongee all successful with their attempts, while the trio of Charles Uirab, Rino Tjitemisa and Somseb failed to find the target for the Citizens.