Zebaldt Ngaruka
The team manager for the Clemens Rukatero Vihajo Okamatapati Soccer League outfit Omurari waCoblenz FC, Rodney Zuma Hoveka, said his club learned from its shortcomings in the fourth division in the first leg.
The club made its debut this season, and it is eyeing glory in one of the competitive leagues in the rural areas. Hoveka shared this with New Era Sports after the team climbed to the top of the league after it collected four points from six last weekend.
The Coblenz-based team defeated Scorpions FC 2-1 on Saturday and produced stalemate results after drawing two-all against on form Ekuija Monjama FC on Sunday.
The manager said Omurari waCoblenz FC had ups and downs in the first leg, including the lack of scoring goals, losing possession in the middle of the field, and some errors in the defending aspect of the team.
“We noticed our struggles and improved in those areas as we managed to acquire new players. We brought in players like Mario Kandjimi, Uakonda Rukambe, Canada Tjirimuje, Ndumba Ndumba, Bruno Vetamunisa and Nanis Useb to bolster our team,” he added.
Hoveka said the addition of these new players helped the team, some of the team’s old players upped their game, and the results started to show.
“We change our playing structure. We are not leading the log, and we are hoping to win it this season.
“The new signings prove the point by scoring, which was the problem in the previous season. We are eyeing the league glory and even confident of winning the league cup as well,” said the manager. He further said that travelling from Coblenz to Okamatapati to play games there is not an easy thing.
“It requires a lot, and the players need to be well taken care of. We cannot load them or hike them in any transport as we put their safety first,” he said.
He emphasised that the team does not have sponsors, and the lack of transport to play in Okamatapati may hinder progress to accomplish its dreams in playing in the top flight league in the country.
“We struggle even to feed our players and sometimes travel back on an empty stomach after games. This is not easy, but we are trying and hope the sponsors will come on board,” Hoveka said.
Vekuna Mutjavikua, one of the team’s die-hard supporters, said she is very excited about the turnaround of the team in the second leg of the campaign.
“I am happy we joined the league this season, and we are leading the log. Our boys are doing a wonderful job in the field, and they stand a good chance of winning the league,” she said.
Mutjavikua further called on the fellow team supporters to rally behind the team and help with whatever possible, as the team doesn’t have sponsors.
“This is the future of our national team, and we have to start at the bottom to motivate them. Let’s be present at the games, follow them where they go and support,” she said.
Omurari waCoblenz FC is topping the league with 26 points, challenged by Okamatapati Combined School team with 22 points in second place, while Ekuija Monjama FC is in third place with 20 points. The Tololo FC is at the bottom of the league with one point from 12 games.
zngaruka@yahoo.com