Stars are always favourites: Akan

By: SHEEFENI NIKODEMUS

AFRICAN Stars coach Ali Akan says his side are favourites to win every match they play in, as they look to maintain their unblemished start to the league campaign against Tigers at Windhoek’s Independence Stadium tonight.

Akan’s Stars are arguably the best team in the Namibia Premier League at the moment, having seemingly rediscovered the form that landed them back to back league titles and an FA Cup from 2008 to 2010 under Bobby Samaria, who now coaches Tigers.
Star have swept by their rivals, scoring eight goals and conceding just one in their three matches to collect maximum points that had them perched atop of the league standings until Wednesday night.
Ramblers have since taken over after their midweek 2-0 victory over Tura Magic, owing to goals from former Stars forward Heinrich Kazerua and Randall Goagoseb.
Stars beat Blue Waters 2-0 in their previous outing.
“We are favourites in every single game,” said Akan. “We are not scared of any team. In the beginning I said I have only one mandate with Stars and that’s to win the league. We are working very hard for this to happen.” In contrast, Samaria’s Tigers have made a mixed start to the season, managing one victory, a draw and a defeat – resulting in four points and sixth position on the log.
Samaria said he has no score to settle with his former employers, but that victory would be a pleasant outcome.
“I left Stars on good terms. Had I left under different conditions then maybe it would have been different,” said Samaria.
He added that he anticipates a “very offensive” game from a Stars side brimming with confidence and had prepared his team accordingly.
Tigers earned a hard fought 1-1 draw at Eleven Arrows last weekend.
“The last game was an away game so obviously the dynamics change because it’s a home game and a different team,” he said. “We played three very difficult games. Four points away from home is not a bad start.
“Hopefully we will be the first team to take points of African Stars this season.”
Tomorrow afternoon, fourth placed Civics play away against Blue Waters at the Narraville Rugby Stadium.
Defending champions Black Africa, in fifth, travel to the Rundu Sport Stadium to take the league’s bottom side Rundu Chiefs.
Third-placed Orlando Pirates, who also have not tasted defeat so far, play at the Sam Nujoma Stadium against an Eleven Arrows outfit that has drawn all its matches this season.
The weekend’s action concludes at Windhoek’s Independence Stadium when SKW, who lie second last, play third-from-bottom Mighty Gunners.

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