Kamuhanga suspended for Katutura derby

By: Helge Schutz

BLACK Africa winger Eslin ‘Lovers’ Kamuhanga will not be available for Saturday’s potential title-deciding derby against African Stars because he has been suspended.

Kamuanga has not featured in any of Black Africa’s matches over the past month and according to unconfirmed reports, he has already signed a contract to join African Stars next season.
Speaking at a press conference organised by Black Africa but also attended by African Stars yesterday, BA’s assistant coach Eric Quest said Kamuhanga will not be considered for the match, because he was ‘suspended’.
“Lovers is still a key player, but there were some problems and he won’t feature in the match. I can’t elaborate but all I can say is that he has been suspended,” he said. Quest and African Stars coach Ali Akan addressed the media in the countdown to Saturday’s derby which promises to be the biggest match of the season, with the league title on the line.
If Black Africa beat Stars, they will win the league title for the third year in a row, but if the match ends in a draw or Stars win, the outcome will only be decided on the final day of the season. Quest said they had a lot of respect for African Stars but were determined to win Saturday’s match.
“To play African Stars is not just another game, it’s a derby, and we all know what that means. We respect African Stars, they have done very well this season and have pushed us all the way, but we know them very well, we know their strengths and weaknesses. We have had two weeks to prepare and we are ready. It won’t be easy but we are ready and confident that we will win the match,” he said.
Akan was also confident of victory saying that Stars would win the match ‘without a doubt.’
“This is the game to decide who will win the league. We are fighting for three titles but BA is only fighting for one title. Our players and technical team have worked very hard and in 27 matches they only lost twice,” he said.
“I think my players are the best in the league without a doubt and we have to win this game to win the title. These two teams deserve to be number one and two, but at the end of the season we will be first, of that there is no question,” he added.
Saturday’s match will be Black Africa’s home match and as such they will take the gate takings, but Akan said that African Stars would walk away with the main prize.
“I believe our supporters will come in their thousands; maybe Black Africa will make a lot of money, but in the end we will win the one million dollars,” he said, referring to the prize money that will be awarded to the league champions. Quest said that Black Africa would be a different team from the one that lost 4-1 to Tigers in their last league outing on May 3.
“We discussed that performance with our players and told them that it was just a bad day at the office, because three of Tigers’ four goals came from defensive errors. On Saturday you will see a different Black Africa - if you approach a wounded lion, it is very dangerous,” he said. Tickets for the match will be available from Friday and can be obtained from Black Africa’s offices in the city centre or from the NFA Soccer House. Tickets can also be bought at the Sam Nujoma Stadium on Saturday, with the gates opening at noon.
There will be live entertainment featuring artists like Webster Snewe, Dixon and the Swazis
SKW will take on Civics at 15h00 with the main match between African Stars and Black Africa starting at 19h00.
In other NPL matches this weekend, Tigers face Orlando Pirates at the Sam Nujoma Stadium on Friday evening; and on Saturday, Eleven Arrows host Mighty Gunners in Walvis Bay, Ramblers take on Blue Waters at the Ramblers Stadium and Tura Magic take on Rundu Chiefs at Windhoek’s Independence Stadium.

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