While African Stars have already been crowned champions of the Debmarine Premiership and Cuca Tops, Blue Boys and Young Brazilians face the heartbreak of relegation. 

The top-flight league’s final round of fixtures this weekend still carries meaning as it takes centre stage. 

If not for silverware or survival, then it is for pride, bragging rights and a chance to finish strong.

With positions still shifting in the mid-table and players seeking to leave a final impression before the off-season, expect no shortage of passion when the whistle blows for the season’s last dance. 

For the Shandumbala outfit, a season of inconsistency has seen the club remain in 11th position with 33 points, right before the league wraps up this weekend. 

Safe from relegation but far adrift from the top half, this weekend’s clash offers a shot at redemption and pride.

They began the season with dreams of challenging for the league title or at least finishing in the top eight.

However, they fell short due to a string of narrow defeats and missed opportunities. 

Now with one final match to play, Tigers will be hoping to end on a high and give their loyal supporters an indication of what could come next season. This weekend, they square off against FC Ongos, who sit in third position with 49 points from 29 games this season.  In a brief conversation, James Britz, the co-coach at Tigers, reflected on a season he admitted was not what they expected before the league’s inception.

“It has been a rollercoaster this season, with wins, draws and defeats. However, this is not the place we would have hoped to be by this day. Still, I am happy with how the boys gave their all and fought for the club,” he said.

Despite their current standing, he expressed satisfaction with the team’s overall performance this season. 

“We avoided relegation, which is good, but we are far from finishing in the top eight, a position the whole team would have wanted,” Britz added.

He said “remaining in the top-flight league will allow us to regroup and plan for the coming season. We will have to regroup, but the focus for now is to end the season on a high by winning the last match”.

In other fixtures this weekend:

At Rundu Sport Stadium, Cuca Tops will play their final top-flight league match against Julinho Sporting. 

The match is expected to start at 15h00. 

At Swakopmund’s Vineta Stadium, relegated Blue Boys will face off against Blue Waters in a tie scheduled for 15h00.

Khomas Nampol will welcome Young Brazilians at the Windhoek Independence Stadium at 15h00. 

Meanwhile, at Mokati Stadium, Mighty Gunners will square off against Okahandja United at 15h00.

On Sunday, action will continue with a match between KK Palace and Chula Chula at the Independence Stadium at 16h00.

– mkambukwe@nepc.com.na