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Namibia: All Coming Down to the Wire
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New Era (Windhoek)
9 May 2008
Posted to the web 9 May 2008
Carlos Kambaekwa
Windhoek
With only five rounds of matches left before the curtain comes down on the lucrative MTC Namibia Premiership, butterflies seem to be running riot in the bellies of the country's leading footballers with points being donated at the drop of a hat as the race for the coveted title intensifies.
Following last weekend's somewhat lukewarm showing against relegation-threatened Mighty Gunners in Otjiwarongo, second placed Cymot Sport Klub Windhoek (SKW) will have to pull out all stops to beat a resurgent Black Africa outfit when the two title-chasing sides meet at the SKW Stadium in Olympia tonight (19h00).
The unfashionable German side occupies second spot on the MTC Namibia Premiership log standings against all odds and will be out to claim the scalps of Smithley Engelbrecht's charges, to leapfrog Oshikandela Ramblers into first place by a single point.
Mathematically, Africa remain very much in contention for the elusive title despite being perched in 6th position with two games in hand over their rivals, but points in the kitty are always more handy than matches in hand.
Victory for Africa will propel them within 5 points of Ramblers while defeat will see them dropping to 9th place, provided Oshakati City and Tigers win their matches against African Stars and Civics respectively.
Defending champions Civics could close the gap to three points if they overcome Tigers at the Khomasdal Stadium in Windhoek tomorrow (15h00).
The Civilians have been struggling to recapture the form that made them three time league champions in consecutive seasons and will have to shake off their hoodoo tag against the unpredictable Ingweinyama.
Tigers are the only team amongst the big guns out of the title race at this juncture and will have no pressure of winning - a situation that might count heavily in their favour to tip the scales.
On current form, the Donkerhoek Boys will have a bigger say as to who wins the country's most sought-after football prize at the end of the day.
The battle at the foot of the table continues when Dawid Snewe's Mighty Gunners travel down South for their do or die clash against fellow league rookies Fedics United at the J Stephanus Stadium in Keetmanshoop tomorrow afternoon (15h00).
Defeat for the Southerners will all but condemn them to the Southern Stream Division One League next season, while victory for the men in uniform will ensure their presence in top flight football, come next season.
The law enforcers welcome back their talismanic goal poacher Edward Damaseb who missed last weekend's goalless home draw against SKW through national obligations.
Southern Stream First Division One-bound APS Blue Waters can expect little favours from "Kid Brother" KM Eleven Arrows when the two coastal giants resume their rivalry on the field at the Kuisebmond Stadium in Walvis Bay tomorrow (15h00).
The "Beautiful-Turned-Ugly Birds" must win at all costs if they are to entertain any hopes of playing Premier League football next season and the team's faithful will certainly not cherish a confrontation with their more ambitious neighbours at this stage.
As it stands, Blue Waters are 5 points off safety and need to put their ducks in the row by winning at least four of their remaining matches to retain their Premiership status.
On the other hand, a comprehensive win for the Gold and Maroon outfit will move them within one point of the summit.
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Ninth placed Oshakati City host African Stars at the town's Independence Stadium tomorrow (15h00) and the Reds will be hoping to bang on their vast support base in the northern capital to collect the three maximum points at stake.
Gilbert Rwasoka's young brigade are still struggling to come to terms with the 6-Nil defeat inflicted on them by Orlando Pirates recently and have been battling to recapture the form that saw them claiming the scalps of defending champions Civics and Ramblers amongst their casualties.
However, City have been proving tricky customers at home and both Civics and Tigers could attest to that after the Windhoek-based teams returned home empty handed from their northern safari in recent weeks.
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