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Namibia: BA Faces Wrath of Wounded Civilians
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New Era (Windhoek)
16 April 2008
Posted to the web 16 April 2008
Carlos Kambaekwa
Windhoek
MTC Namibia Premiership defending champions Civics will rely on home ground advantage when Helmuth Scharnowsky's wounded soldiers meet title rivals Black Africa in an intriguing league tie at the Khomasdal Stadium in Windhoek tonight (19h00).
Both teams are living dangerously down the ladder and need to start collecting maximum points if they are to revive their fading title hopes and tonight's match could be the catalyst for their title aspirations.
The Civilians are trailing log leaders Ramblers by a massive seven points and will need a Herculean act to dismantle the champions-elect from the pedestal, while Black Africa remain stuck in 4th position on the log standings - 6 points off the pace.
Victory for the Civilians will see them leapfrog into 3rd position in front of rivals Orlando Pirates, Black Africa and African Stars and - considering the single point separating each of the six teams from the 2nd position - any slip-up at this stage could prove fatal with both Ramblers and SKW having built up a comfortable lead of 5 and 4 points respectively away from their closest rivals.
The Civilians' surge for a fourth consecutive league title suffered a serious blow when the maroon and white stripped outfit found themselves at the receiving end of Samson Kawawa's sword last weekend.
The tall Zimbabwean defender's well taken spot-kicks on either side of play contributed largely to the Civilians returning empty-handed from their northern safari last weekend.
Nevertheless, Civics' mentor Ricardo "Bucksy" Mannetti, refused to concede that the team's desire for an unprecedented fourth consecutive title is now out of reach and praised his team for the gutsy showing they put up against City despite all the odds staked against them.
"It must be clearly understood that we have played five successive games away from home and won four of those matches, which says a lot about the team's character and quality, but somehow that run has to come to an end, but I'm not happy with the manner in which we lost against City.
"Look, I'm not the kind of person who is in the habit of having a go at referees, but I must confess that I was not wholly convinced with City's first goal which came via a dubious penalty," fumed the former Brave Warriors midfield kingpin.
Mannetti however admitted that the defending champions did not have the kind of start they would have liked to their current campaign, but was quick to point out that the race for the coveted title is still wide open.
"As opposed to the last couple of seasons where the title was already won with half a dozen matches still to go, this season's race will definitely go down to the wire and could be decided with the last kick of the ball," said Manetti.
"In our case, we still have 24 points to play for and anything is possible from now on because I strongly believe anyone from the seven teams in the top bracket can still win the league if one looks at the narrow margin between these teams."
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Pressed on whether it is viable for teams to play more than two consecutive matches away from home - the former Santos midfielder was a bit philosophical and said:
"That's certainly not a very healthy situation but sometimes one has to roll with the punches and accept things that you can't change."
On the contrary, Smithley Engelbrecht's young brigade played to a morale-boosting away draw against APS Blue Waters in their last league match and will be hoping to record a rare double over the undisputed Namibian champions.
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