Windhoek
MTC Premiership surprise leaders Tigers Football Club will face a formidable test of character when they travel to the coast for what promises to be two enticing encounters against old foes Eleven Arrows and LHU Blue Waters, respectively.
The rejuvenated Ingwe has been sitting on the summit for a considerable number of months and will be out to prove that their sudden rise in the domestic topflight league is no fluke.
With multiple title-winning coach Brian Isaacs at the helm, the country’s oldest football club looks destined to claim its first post Independence league title and – if their current form is anything to go be – only a fool would bet against Tigers knocking reigning champions African Stars from the pedestal.
However, both coastal giants, Arrows and Blue Waters are also enjoying a rare run of decent results and could give the visitors a good run for their money.
Brian Isaacks’ fired-up charges opened their Atlantic Ocean assault with a tie against Arrows at the Kuisebmond Stadium on Saturday before returning to the same venue 24 hours later to confront eternal rivals Blue Waters.
“We enjoyed a very good first round and want to maintain that momentum, because we are currently faced with two challenges: one is to win the league title and other one is to maintain our unbeaten streak,” says a confident Isaacs.
The MTC Premiership log leaders returned to training on the 4th of this month after the festive season sabbatical and were back in action last weekend. Tigers came out tops in their two-legged warm-ups against fellow premiership campaigners Flamingoes – winning 1-0 in Windhoek, followed by a 1-0 triumph in Rehoboth. They also played to a 1-all draw against lower division outfit Nampol.
Tigers and Blue Waters played out a 1-all stalemate in the first round, with hosts Tigers needing a last gasp goal to salvage a point.
Under the stewardship of former blue-eyed boy Armando Pedro “the Birds” (Blue Waters) have been playing some exciting football, reminiscent of the club’s untouchable squad of the 70’s and 80’s.
During his playing days in the blue and white strip of the seasiders, Angolan-born Pedro used to bamboozle robust defenders at will with amazing speed, cousined by an unbelievable eye for goal.
Could he be the man to halt Tigers’ 15-match unbeaten run at the halfway stage of the 2015/2016 campaign?