Carlos Kambaekwa
14 May 2008
Windhoek — MTC Namibia Premiership log leaders Oshikandela Ramblers retained their place at the top of the country's elite league without having to shed a drop of sweat after their closest rivals dropped valuable points.
Paulus "Wire" Shipanga came off the bench to save Orlando Pirates from the jaws of death when the former Blue Waters and Bidvest Wits University's goal-poacher rattled home a beauty, which kept the Buccaneers' title hopes alive.
The Ghosts came from a goal down to force defending champions Civics to a 1-all stalemate in an action-packed MTC Namibia Premiership clash at the Khomasdal Stadium in Windhoek last night.
The Civilians were the more enterprising side in the opening stages and had the Pirates' rearguard at sixes and sevens with newly capped Brave Warriors midfielder Tuyeni Tugela coming close with a close range header.
The lanky playmaker rose above a hesitant Pirates defence and connected beautifully with Franklin April's floated free kick, but he directed his powerful header just off the target with Athiel Mbaha in Pirates' goal well at sea.
Discarded Brave Warriors' left-winger Patrick M'Kotwana almost got his name on the score sheet when he found himself with an open goal in front of him but the chance went astray - courtesy of a timely intervention from Pirates' tough tackling defender Enrico Afrikaner.
The hosts pressed for the opening goal and during one of their forays - Brian Brendell headed fractionally wide from Floris Diergaardt's good delivery.
At the other end, Afrikaner missed a glorious opportunity to put the Buccaneers ahead when the overlapping fullback ventured forward and got to the end of Klaas Blom's cross, which he guided into the side net from close range.
With few minutes left before the changeover, M'Kotwana headed just wide from a well-calculated free kick taken by April.
The Civilians started where they left off as they took the initiative to attack while Pirates were more content in absorbing the pressure in the hope of catching their opponents on the counter attack - but their rare visits to the Civilians' danger zone were easily thwarted by Civics' makeshift centre back Jamu Ngatjizeko, who gave a sterling performance in the heart of the Civilians' defence.
It took Helmuth Scharnowsky's charges just seven minutes after the restart to break the deadlock.
Brendell kept his cool under severe pressure and laid off a telling cross into the path of the unmarked M'Kotwana, who made no mistake with a cracking left footer that left Mbaha sprawling on the turf (1-0).
The goal seemed to ignite the Ghosts who started playing with more purpose and stand-in captain Riaan Cloete almost grabbed the equalizer - had it not been for the timely intervention of Ngatjizeko, who prevented the pint sized-midfielder from guiding the ball into the net from six metres out.
Shortly afterwards, Shipanga sent the hundreds of Pirates supporters into raptures when he volleyed home from outside the penalty box - leaving Esau Tjiuoro in Civics' goal catching flies as the ball flew over his head before kissing the roof of the net in the 69th minute.
Cloete had a chance to put his team ahead after some clever play by Shipanga, but an alert Tjiuoro proved equal to the task.
Action swung from end to end and Civics had a penalty appeal turned down by referee Reinold Shikongo, after M'Kotwana went down in the penalty box.
Civics found themselves a man down when April fell foul of the referee's crime sheet for retaliation, with eight minutes left on the clock.
However, Pirates failed to fully utilize their numerical advantage and it was the Civilians who finished the stronger of the two sides.
The result saw the Buccaneers exchanging positions with Cymot Sport Klub Windhoek (SKW) on the basis of their superior goal difference over their wealthy neigbours.
Civics have also close the gap to two points from the summit and are now in joint 2nd place alongside Pirates and SKW on 28 points each - two points off the pace of Ramblers, who boast a game in hand over their closest rivals.
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