Hilma Nalupe
African Stars Football Club tested themselves against top regional competition last weekend when they hosted a four-club pre-season tournament at the Independence Stadium in Windhoek.
The event featured Lioli Football Club from Lesotho, AC Maniema-Union from the Democratic Republic of Congo and Angolan giants Petro Atlético Luanda.
The opening match on Saturday saw Lioli FC edge AC Maniema-Union 6-5 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in regulation time.
In the second clash of the day, African Stars faced Petro Atlético but narrowly went down 0-1.
On Sunday, the hosts returned to action in the third-place playoff against AC Maniema-Union.
Despite a determined effort, Stars again lost by a single goal (0-1).
The final between Lioli FC and Petro Atlético was a thrilling contest, ending 2-2 before the Angolan side sealed the title with a 5-4 win on penalties.
Reflecting on the weekend, Stars head coach Bob Mafoso said the matches offered his team crucial insight into their readiness.
“Playing games of this magnitude helped us achieve what we wanted to gain physically. Tactically, we still need to do a lot of work inside the attacking third. Because of these games, we are now able to tell where we are in terms of preparation for competitive fixtures,” he stated.
He added that fans should look forward to an improved performance when Stars meet Eeshoke Chula Chula FC next weekend in a match staged as part of the Brave Warriors’ World Cup campaign initiative.
While results did not go their way, the pre-season runout gave Stars a valuable benchmark as they continue shaping up for the new season.