Rukoro excited about Cup

By: CORRY IHUHUA

THE chief executive officer of the Namibia Football Association (NFA), Barry Rukoro, has expressed delight at the mixed results and the level of competition of the Cell One NFA Cup played around the country at the weekend.

Rukoro said he was happy that lower-divisions teams were involved in the competition and so far three have qualified for the last 16, ousting premiership sides along the way. “Generally, I am happy that the lower-division teams were given the right to compete in this lucrative competition. They showed that they
too have the ability to compete against the best and their commitment now sees some of them on their way to the best part of the event,” he said. He said he is excited about the way in which the sponsors have helped to make the tournament a success and wants them to continue doing so for many more years. “Now that we have a number of sponsors in place, it becomes easier for football to prosper and Cell One putting in such a huge investment not only benefits the respective economies of the towns where it is taking place, but also gives coaches achance to identify the talents of the many players who are playing for these lower-division teams,” he said. So far Blue Boys, Robber Chanties and Fedics United have made it
through to the later stages of the competition, which Rukoro believes will become
stiffer. “They did well to get there, but should bear

in mind that things will only become better and the players from these teams should impress to get be seen by the many premiership scouts and national team selectors,” he said. NPL SIDES OUT Oshakati City, Hotspurs and Mighty Gunners are the three premiership sides that fell victim to the lower-division teams and will no longer be part of the competition, which continues at the end of the
month. Tigers were forced into a penalty shoot-out by Mighty Birds which they won 4-3 in the end, while Black Africa struggled to bury Hotspurs by coming out tops through a 1-0 win in the end on Sunday. Stars hammered Friends 4-0 on Sunday, but could have wrapped up the match in the first half if bad luck was not on their
side. Eleven Arrows were in commanding form when they blew away Onambula United 3-0, while SKW had no mercy for Life Fighters, putting them to bed with a 3-1 drubbing. On Saturday, Ramblers recorded the highest score line of the tournament to date with a comprehensive 8-0 demolition of Pescanova Lüderitz at Keetmanshoop. Full results were as follows:

Bingo 4-2 SFC 2; Blue
Waters 2-0 Vietnam
Rangers; Blue Boys 2-1
Oshakati City; Robber
Chanties 1-0 Mighty
Gunners; Spoilers 1-2
Chief Santos Tigers 4-3
(pen) Mighty Birds; Arrows
3-0 Onambula Utd;
African Stars 4-0 Friends;
Ramblers 8-0 Pescanova;
Tough Guys 1-2 Fedics;
Black Africa 1-0
Hotspurs; SKW 3-1 Life
Fighters.
* Civics did not play as indicated yesterday, while Blue Waters beat Vietnam
Rangers 2-0 and not the other way around.
corry@namibian.com.na

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