… On course for a league title
WINDHOEK – Coach Bobby Samaria has been around and seen it all as a player and coach in domestic football and ranks among very few coaches who have enjoyed success as both player and coach in domestic football.
However, the stocky former midfield general is not getting carried away by his impressive resume that saw him winning a horde of league titles with Black Africa and African Stars as he appears to have finally found his usual magic touch with MTC Premiership perennial underachievers Tigers.
Namibia’s oldest football club look to have finally shaken off its customary inconsistency and only a fool would bet against Tigers being serious contenders to topple reigning Namibian champions Black Africa from the pedestal.
Ingweinyama have confirmed their title credentials with convincing back-to-back wins in their opening two matches, but Samaria and his trusted soldiers need to prove the doubting Thomases wrong. Some football pundits are not entirely convinced arguing that Tigers’ triumphs came at the expense of mild opposition in the shape of league rookies United Stars and Blue Waters. A likely victory over the Civilians will silence the skeptics.
In tomorrow’s action, Katutura glamour football club African Stars travel to Rundu to take on hosts Rundu Chiefs in a must 3-pointer for the ambitious visitors who are winless after two rounds of matches. The match will be played at the Rundu stadium.
MTC Premiership new boys PC Blue Boys are at home to fellow rookies United Stars at the Vineta central sports complex in Swakopmund. Ramblers play hosts to Eleven Arrows in the first of a double header at the Sam Nujoma stadium that also sees Black Africa up against LHU Blue Waters at 18h00. Unless otherwise stated; all matches start at 16h00.
Wasteful Tura pay the penalty
In midweek action, FNB Orlando Pirates return to winning ways with a hard fought 1-0 win over 10-man Tura Magic in an electrifying MTC Premiership clash at the Sam Nujoma stadium. Malawian import Chikonda netted the only goal of the match from the penalty spot early in the second half to give the Buccaneers their second win of the season.
It was a game of two distinct halves with Tura Magic on top in their opening half while the Ghosts took the initiative in the second half making full use of their numerical advantage following the first half sending off of Tura’s reliable defender Tebs Lombard.
Man of the match Stanley Kamesiepo enjoyed a field night for Pirates as the speedy winger constantly cut his marker to size every time he went down the white line delivering telling crosses into the opposition’s danger zone with the precision of a seasoned butcher – only to be badly let down by poor finishing from his fellow strikers or thwarted by the heroics of Barron Ndjai in Tura’s goal.
The victory propelled Ali Akan’s team to joint first place on the log standings alongside early pace-setters Tigers, Civics and Tura Magic on 6-points apiece but the rejuvenated Ingweinyama could regain the lead when they confront Civics in a top of the table clash at the Sam Nujoma stadium tonight at 20h00.
By Carlos Kambaekwa