Arrows to hunt down Civics, says Shipanga

ELEVEN Arrows coach Lucky Shipanga regards fear towards Civics as irrelevant when the two teams clash in the second round match of the MTC NFA Cup at Keetmanshoop on Saturday.

Shipanga said his team will fight until the last minute when they engage Civics in the competition, which has now moved to Keetmanshoop and Otjiwarongo. The winners from the 16 teams in action this weekend will progress to the quarter-finals.Shipanga, whose team has made it to the last 16 after beating Golden Bees 2-0 in the first round, said fear was no issue at this stage and believes that all the teams have an equal chance in the competition.”My team has young players who are eager to learn, they are tactically and technically responding positively to instructions,” assured the coach.He said “the competition has now properly started”, as weaker teams will see the way out, while the strongest teams will be fighting for survival.Shipanga, a former Eleven Arrows and Blue Waters player, regards Civics as one of the more established teams with good quality players, but he still has no fear for them on the field of play.”It is going be a tough encounter.But the bottom line is, we have no fear and we will go out there and make good use of the ball to come out as winners,” he said.In fact, Shipanga was the assistant coach to Shepherd Murape of Blue Waters, before moving to Arrows as head coach this season.Civics team manager Paul Stramis hit back, saying that they have a determined side which is just looking into the direction of reaching the final.”We are two-time league champions and it will not be easy for Arrows to give us a hiding.It will take a lot of effort from them.But we also know where their strengths lie.So we will be cautious.They must expect fireworks from us, as we are going to fire from all cylinders,” said Stramis.Stramis said his players are injury-free and will be going for a win at all costs.The encounter will be the last one on the Keetmanshoop weekend menu, which will only see three encounters, compared to the Mokati Stadium in Otjiwarongo which will host five matches.The most interesting match at Otjiwarongo will see an in-form Oshakati City attempting to bury African Stars in their quest to make it to the final stages for the first time Oshakati City will be disappointed if they fail to pass the grade against Stars, considering their brilliant run in the domestic league, which now places them second from the top.City is a rejuvenated side with their strength in midfield, while their strikers have avoided wastefulness in front of goal.Stars’ hard-fought 1-0 win at Tsumeb against Touch & Go last weekend exposed some of their shortcomings, but a different performance against a fellow premiership outfit is expected.Stars will be hoping to go the distance this time around, after coming close to land the FNB Cup in two consecutive seasons.Black Africa will have an opportunity to make it to the quarter-finals as they will be going up against Major Power from Ohangwena region.Ramblers, SKW and Orlando Pirates are the other only premiership teams left in the competition.Nampa and Own ReporterThe winners from the 16 teams in action this weekend will progress to the quarter-finals.Shipanga, whose team has made it to the last 16 after beating Golden Bees 2-0 in the first round, said fear was no issue at this stage and believes that all the teams have an equal chance in the competition.”My team has young players who are eager to learn, they are tactically and technically responding positively to instructions,” assured the coach.He said “the competition has now properly started”, as weaker teams will see the way out, while the strongest teams will be fighting for survival.Shipanga, a former Eleven Arrows and Blue Waters player, regards Civics as one of the more established teams with good quality players, but he still has no fear for them on the field of play.”It is going be a tough encounter.But the bottom line is, we have no fear and we will go out there and make good use of the ball to come out as winners,” he said.In fact, Shipanga was the assistant coach to Shepherd Murape of Blue Waters, before moving to Arrows as head coach this season.Civics team manager Paul Stramis hit back, saying that they have a determined side which is just looking into the direction of reaching the final.”We are two-time league champions and it will not be easy for Arrows to give us a hiding.It will take a lot of effort from them.But we also know where their strengths lie.So we will be cautious.They must expect fireworks from us, as we are going to fire from all cylinders,” said Stramis.Stramis said his players are injury-free and will be going for a win at all costs.The encounter will be the last one on the Keetmanshoop weekend menu, which will only see three encounters, compared to the Mokati Stadium in Otjiwarongo which will host five matches.The most interesting match at Otjiwarongo will see an in-form Oshakati City attempting to bury African Stars in their quest to make it to the final stages for the first time Oshakati City will be disappointed if they fail to pass the grade against Stars, considering their brilliant run in the domestic league, which now places them second from the top.City is a rejuvenated side with their strength in midfield, while their strikers have avoided wastefulness in front of goal.Stars’ hard-fought 1-0 win at Tsumeb against Touch & Go last weekend exposed some of their shortcomings, but a different performance against a fellow premiership outfit is expected.Stars will be hoping to go the distance this time around, after coming close to land the FNB Cup in two consecutive seasons.Black Africa will have an opportunity to make it to the quarter-finals as they will be going up against Major Power from Ohangwena region.Ramblers, SKW and Orlando Pirates are the other only premiership teams left in the competition.Nampa and Own Reporter