Angolans prepare in Nam

NAMIBIAN premiership defending champions Orlando Pirates have a date with Angolan counterparts Primeiro de Agosto tonight, ahead of a domestic league clash which will pit African Stars against Sport Klub Windhoek at the SKW Stadium tonight. Kick-off is at 17h30.

The Angolan side are on a pre-season tour and have already played several matches against Namibian teams and will tonight come up against a Pirates side who are preparing for their weekend fixture against Ramblers at the Khomasdal Stadium.
Former Orlando Pirates midfielder Riaan Cloete will this time turn out for the visitors after he was signed on a one-year contract recently, while on the other hand, former De Agosto playmaker Meraai Swartbooi will feature for Pirates.
It will be a test of character for the two young but exciting players who swapped teams for the new season.
Swartbooi is expected to return to the Angolan national first-division side at the end of the season, while Cloete will see if his contract can be renewed, depending on his performance.
A source revealed that Swartbooi wants to go back to Angola to continue his career with De Agosto, but first aims to set up a business in Mariental and pay attention to his family.
He has been away for two solid seasons and was also a member of the Brave Warriors squad that played at the 2008 African Nations Cup in Ghana.
Former South African Premier Soccer League (PSL) coach for Orlando Pirates, Victor Bondarenko, goes up against Brian Isaacs, who is also the assistant Brave Warriors coach.
Bondarenko is a well-known gaffer, especially in South African football circles, and with his current team (De Agosto) touring Namibia, he has won three of his four friendly matches here.
Earlier last week, De Agosto beat Monitronic College 4-1 and SKW 1-0. They also beat Civics 1-0 before losing 4-3 to Civics at the weekend.
The team has been in the country since January 5 and will conclude their tour with another match on Saturday against African Stars.

PETRO ALSO AROUND

Meanwhile, Petro de Luanda, another Angolan first-division contender, also arrived in the country yesterday and are due to play a string of friendly matches with local sides to prepare for the new season.
The Angolans had their last training session in Luanda on Monday and arrived in Namibia yesterday to play against Black Africa, Civics, Blue Waters and Eleven Arrows.
At this stage, there are no dates and times released for the various friendly matches, as some of the domestic teams will be involved in league games during the weekend.
Petro de Luanda, which like the De Agosto has a big fan base, will be led by Portuguese Bernadino Pedroto and are currently the national first-division champions.
They will be in Namibia for 16 days and are expected to play at least six matches.
Meanwhile, Namibian players such as Brian Gurirab, Letu Shatimuene and Dumisa Jantze have all returned to their respective sides in Angola after a short break in Namibia.
Gurirab plays alongside former Civics goal poacher William Chilufya at Primeiro de Maio, while Shatimuene turns out for Deportivo Dahuila, all in the top flight.
Jantze, who formerly also played for Civics, has linked up with Sagrada, which also competes in the elite league.