BA crowned NFA Cup champions

LIFE Fighters’ coach Herman Katjiuongua said Black Africa deserved to win the NFA Cup final match after his side went down 2-0 in the final of the Cup at the Oshakati Independence Stadium on Saturday.

Chief Santos beat Tigers 1-0 for third place in a match that saw Albert Gaoab securing the win in the second half. Katjiuongua told The Namibian Sport after the match that his side had not lived up to expectations, and, as a result, had to endure the loss to the “Lively Lions” on a perfect pitch in the capital of northern Namibia.Katjiuongua said that he was disappointed with the overall performance of the team at the end of the day, but paid tribute to Black Africa who were given the edge in the fourth minute of the first half after Life Fighters defender Philip Garish let in an own goal.”Lollo Goraseb played the biggest part in the victory of his team today and I accept the defeat as we were simply not up to the challenge that BA offered us, and we also made a lot of mistakes that cost us the game,” he said.Katjiuongua added that BA played well and were worthy champions.BA coach Smithley Engelbrecht said after the match that his players were not only physically ready for the match, but had a tactical and psychological approach to the game.”We knew that we had to capitalise on certain things to win the match and the players made sure that it was done accordingly,” he said.BA collected their second major trophy for 2004 after they had also bagged the Sam Nujoma New Era Cup in March.Black Africa and Engelbrecht as the coach have emerged as a strong combination, especially at the back, while their midfield with Goraseb as the dictator has proven tight.BA’s striking force showed on Saturday that they have the ability to score, but each player is rather reluctant to take his shot at goal.Despite the continued brilliance of midfield kingpin Goraseb, BA’s captain in the middle of the pack on Saturday, the final match of the 2004 NFA Cup final did not produce many thrilling moments, let alone goals that excited the 3 000 fans who had forked out N$10 to witness the much publicised encounter.The match started off on a fast note, giving referee Avro Mufeti little time to settle in as each side searched for an opener within at least the first 10 minutes.The match then suddenly settled to a boring routine for most of the first half, with players from both teams not looking determined to achieve their mission in this competition that has produced drama since its start.Black Africa undoubtedly had most of the supporters among the two audience.Neatly tucked into a strategic location next to the VIP Lounge, the BA fans screamed at the top of their voices to steer their team to victory.A result they ultimately got.Goraseb was the thorn in the vulnerable and rather unsuspecting midfield of Life Fighters, as he tormented the young players with his great passes to his strikers that were mostly determined to cause havoc.Goraseb, who played an key role in the victory of his team, demonstrated his superb vision by creating crucial passes for his forwards, but with most of them wasted.Life Fighters, affectionately known as “Kahirona”, had one of their worst games of their run at the trophy with their strikers dismally failing to put away some of the easiest chances.Key men such as Dennis Shilongo, Alfred Haufiku and Veno Namholo could just not penetrate the BA defence with their game-plan, which was evidently played from the wings.Life Fighters tried to liven up their match in the last 25 minutes of the game, but the formidable players of BA’s Arnold Subeb denied blocked them every time.The match had an interesting finish as Oli Khiba decided to take matters beyond the Otjiwarongo side after a fantastic goal-face cross from master tactician Goraseb.The BA supporters, after the goal, were already lined-up to enter the pitch to congratulate their players, but at least 15 minutes were left in the match.But in the end, the supporters ran onto the pitch and gave their favourite players a pat on the back or a firm handshake for their success.Katjiuongua told The Namibian Sport after the match that his side had not lived up to expectations, and, as a result, had to endure the loss to the “Lively Lions” on a perfect pitch in the capital of northern Namibia.Katjiuongua said that he was disappointed with the overall performance of the team at the end of the day, but paid tribute to Black Africa who were given the edge in the fourth minute of the first half after Life Fighters defender Philip Garish let in an own goal.”Lollo Goraseb played the biggest part in the victory of his team today and I accept the defeat as we were simply not up to the challenge that BA offered us, and we also made a lot of mistakes that cost us the game,” he said.Katjiuongua added that BA played well and were worthy champions.BA coach Smithley Engelbrecht said after the match that his players were not only physically ready for the match, but had a tactical and psychological approach to the game.”We knew that we had to capitalise on certain things to win the match and the players made sure that it was done accordingly,” he said.BA collected their second major trophy for 2004 after they had also bagged the Sam Nujoma New Era Cup in March.Black Africa and Engelbrecht as the coach have emerged as a strong combination, especially at the back, while their midfield with Goraseb as the dictator has proven tight.BA’s striking force showed on Saturday that they have the ability to score, but each player is rather reluctant to take his shot at goal.Despite the continued brilliance of midfield kingpin Goraseb, BA’s captain in the middle of the pack on Saturday, the final match of the 2004 NFA Cup final did not produce many thrilling moments, let alone goals that excited the 3 000 fans who had forked out N$10 to witness the much publicised encounter.The match started off on a fast note, giving referee Avro Mufeti little time to settle in as each side searched for an opener within at least the first 10 minutes.The match then suddenly settled to a boring routine for most of the first half, with players from both teams not looking determined to achieve their mission in this competition that has produced drama since its start.Black Africa undoubtedly had most of the supporters among the two audience.Neatly tucked into a strategic location next to the VIP Lounge, the BA fans screamed at the top of their voices to steer their team to victory.A result they ultimately got.Goraseb was the thorn in the vulnerable and rather unsuspecting midfield of Life Fighters, as he tormented the young players with his great passes to his strikers that were mostly determined to cause havoc.Goraseb, who played an key role in the victory of his team, demonstrated his superb vision by creating crucial passes for his forwards, but with most of them wasted.Life Fighters, affectionately known as “Kahirona”, had one of their worst games of their run at the trophy with their strikers dismally failing to put away some of the easiest chances.Key men such as Dennis Shilongo, Alfred Haufiku and Veno Namholo could just not penetrate the BA defence with their game-plan, which was evidently played from the wings.Life Fighters tried to liven up their match in the last 25 minutes of the game, but the formidable players of BA’s Arnold Subeb denied blocked them every time.The match had an interesting finish as Oli Khiba decided to take matters beyond the Otjiwarongo side after a fantastic goal-face cross from master tactician Goraseb.The BA supporters, after the goal, were already lined-up to enter the pitch to congratulate their players, but at least 15 minutes were left in the match.But in the end, the supporters ran onto the pitch and gave their favourite players a pat on the back or a firm handshake for their success.