BLACK Africa’s 5-2 thumping of Oshakati City on Saturday opened up a four-point gap over closest rivals Ramblers in the race for premier league success.
Defending champions African Stars were held to a home draw by the gallant Mighty Gunners, while Civics and Orlando Pirates lost to Eleven Arrows and SKW respectively.While BA appear to be hitting top form, their rivals have been far from convincing in the second round. Second-placed Ramblers lost 1-0 to Tigers last Wednesday, and are in danger of surrendering their place to SKW, who where impressive in their come-from-behind 2-1 victory over Orlando Pirates on Friday.Despite conceding an early own goal through error prone left-back Jeremia Baisako, SKW regrouped to force Pirates defender Michael Pienaar into bundling a goal into his own net, before Alfred Ndyenge headed in the winner before the halftime interval. Civics title aspirations were derailed as Dumisa Jantze, Abraham Paulus and Joseph Mutelo inspired Eleven Arrows to 3-0 win at the Kuisebmond Stadium on Saturday. The defeat leaves Civics third on 24 points with Arrows moving up two places to sixth. The league’s leading marksman Harold ‘Doekie’ Ochurub rescued a point for Gunners, who gave arguably their best footballing performance of the season to draw 1-1 with Stars. Heinrich Kazerua’s 80th minute stunner appeared to have settled the match for Stars until Ochurub’s well-struck conversion from the spot on 89 minutes resulted in a share of the spoils. Stars are now fourth and have 22 points as Gunners remained tenth on 16, two points above the drop zone, occupied by Blue Boys on 14 and Oshakati City with 11.However Blue Boys’ cause to avoid the dreaded drop was boosted by a 2-1 win over coastal rivals Blue Waters. The same cannot be said for bottom club Oshakati City, who were comprehensively outplayed and defeated by Black Africa. Midfielder Marco Van Wyk scored a brace and further goals from Warren Neidel, Willy Stefanus and Elifas Heita after the break ensured a comfortable win for the league leaders. City’s Simon Ouseb’s solo effort had briefly made a contest of the first half, but their second courtesy of a second-half penalty by Rodney Damaseb, was a mere consolation.The victory puts BA on 28 points, four ahead of Ramblers and SKW who are both on 24, and assistant coach Eric Quest believes the title is in sight.’Our aim is to win the league,’ Quest said after the match. ‘We are on course for that. ‘We just have to get the focus and get the spirit right and also get the results.’City’s Technical Director Mohammed Ouseb is however adamant that his side has plenty of time to avoid dropping down to the first division. ‘There’s still a few games left,’ Ouseb told reporters at Windhoek’s Independence Stadium after the loss. ‘We won’t give up,’ he added. ‘We will keep fighting.’sheefeni@namibian.com.na
