By Carlos Kambaekwa
Reigning champions and joint leaders Civics’ title aspirations could be temporarily halted when the Civilians face a rejuvenated Tigers in an MTC Namibia Premiership clash at Windhoek’s Independence Stadium tonight (19h00).
The Khomasdal-based outfit is chasing an unprecedented successive 4th title but Tigers could disrupt that ambition if their performance against African Stars in their last league outing is anything to go by.
After an indifferent start to their league campaign, the Donkerhoek boys finally got their act together following the acquisition of Willem Kapukare as head coach and the former Liverpool player-coach and vastly knowledgeable youth mentor immediately announced his return to club football with a resounding victory over Stars.
The Civilians could return to the summit if they beat Tigers or even get a draw provided closest rivals Black Africa do not gain maximum points from their penultimate clash against Sport Klub Windhoek.
A win for Tigers will propel them to a more respectable mid-table position after spending a good chunk of the first 5 rounds in unfamiliar territory with only 5 points courtesy of a solitary victory, 2 draws and 2 losses.
In tonight’s other action, draw specialists SKW are at home to 3rd placed Black Africa at the SKW stadium in Olympia (kick off 19h00).
The Germans, together with Ramblers, are the only unbeaten teams in the 12-team elite league, but the green and white outfit lags behind the early pace-setters after they could only muster one victory from their 5 matches played so far, with the rest ending in stalemates while the only win came at the expense of league rookies Fedics United.
KM Eleven Arrows will be out to restore some lost pride following last weekend’s defeat at the hands of Black Africa in the semifinal of the FNB Knockout Cup, when they confront fellow strugglers and archrivals APS Blue Waters in a coastal derby at the Kuisebmond Stadium in Walsvis Bay tomorrow afternoon (kick off 18h00).
Forget about past and recent results, there is very little love lost between the two coastal giants and tomorrow’s result could go either way with Blue Waters unlikely to surrender their years of dominance over their arch-rivals.
Also tomorrow, African Stars welcome Oshakati City at the Sam Nujoma Stadium in Windhoek, while Mighty Gunners entertain fellow league rookies Fedics United at the Mokati Stadium in Otjiwarongo (both matches kick off at 18h00).