Blue Waters hit back at BA

BLUE Waters avenged the 2-1 loss they suffered against Black Africa in a league match when they ousted them 5-4 on penalties to advance to the quarter-finals of the MTC Cup on Saturday.

The final score in the match at the Keetmanshoop showgrounds stood at 0-0. Also at Keetmanshoop, Oshakati City had a worthwhile trip from the North when they beat Touch & Go 5-4 to qualify for the quarters.Eleven Arrows recorded one of their highest victories in their match at Otjiwarongo’s Mokati Stadium, when they blasted low-division side Arsenal 6-0 to make their way to the quarters.At the same venue, Orlando Pirates ended with a convincing 5-2 win over Rehoboth side Deportivo Alaves, who also had a chance to strut their stuff in their premiership last season.Yesterday, Civics continued their brilliant form when they beat another former premiership outfit, Golden Bees, 3-0 to book themselves a spot in the last eight, while Chief Santos buried United Stars 6-1 at the same venue late yesterday.The teams that played at Keetmanshoop on Saturday could not return home because northbound traffic was paralysed by the floods at Mariental.Black Africa and Blue Waters players are now housed at the Keetmanshoop Youth Centre.Tigers, SKW, Ramblers and African Stars will play on Wednesday this week to determine which two teams will join the six that are already through to the third last stage of the lucrative competition, which has a prize of over N$300 000 for the winner.Namibia Premier League (NPL) administrator Tovey Hoebeb confirmed that matches will be played on Wednesday, but the venues still need to be confirmed.He said the teams that did not play this weekend are luckily all from Windhoek and it will be easier to complete their matches before the next round.Meanwhile, reports were rife at the weekend that current Black Africa head coach Bobby Samaria was leaving the side due to “problems within the team”.Sources told The Namibian Sport that a conflict between Samaria and newly appointed caretaker coach Ronnie Kanalelo was the cause of Samaria’s possible exit from the team.Samaria’s job, who has won back-to-back cup titles with BA during the past three seasons, was said to be threatened after the arrival of Kanalelo.Kanalelo, who was appointed on February 2 this year, has been shouting instructions to players from the bench since then, a situation which is said to have made Samaria uneasy in his job.When contacted for comment yesterday, Samaria said he was not leaving BA at this stage, but was considering an offer from Tigers.”I am still the head coach of the team and I have not made up my mind.Yes, I can confirm that there are problems in the team, but I first need to see my chairman (Kandas Paulino) before I can make a decision,” he said.He said Tigers had approached him with an offer, but he has not accepted it yet.”I had talks with Tigers to listen to what they can offer and I also told them what I would expect in case I make up my mind.To be honest, it will be a career decision, but not a personal one I would make in case I leave BA.At this stage, I have not decided to leave the team and join another one yet,” he said.Samaria has not attended the team’s training for the past week and did not accompany the team to Keetmanshoop for their match against Blue Waters.Also at Keetmanshoop, Oshakati City had a worthwhile trip from the North when they beat Touch & Go 5-4 to qualify for the quarters.Eleven Arrows recorded one of their highest victories in their match at Otjiwarongo’s Mokati Stadium, when they blasted low-division side Arsenal 6-0 to make their way to the quarters.At the same venue, Orlando Pirates ended with a convincing 5-2 win over Rehoboth side Deportivo Alaves, who also had a chance to strut their stuff in their premiership last season.Yesterday, Civics continued their brilliant form when they beat another former premiership outfit, Golden Bees, 3-0 to book themselves a spot in the last eight, while Chief Santos buried United Stars 6-1 at the same venue late yesterday.The teams that played at Keetmanshoop on Saturday could not return home because northbound traffic was paralysed by the floods at Mariental.Black Africa and Blue Waters players are now housed at the Keetmanshoop Youth Centre.Tigers, SKW, Ramblers and African Stars will play on Wednesday this week to determine which two teams will join the six that are already through to the third last stage of the lucrative competition, which has a prize of over N$300 000 for the winner.Namibia Premier League (NPL) administrator Tovey Hoebeb confirmed that matches will be played on Wednesday, but the venues still need to be confirmed.He said the teams that did not play this weekend are luckily all from Windhoek and it will be easier to complete their matches before the next round.Meanwhile, reports were rife at the weekend that current Black Africa head coach Bobby Samaria was leaving the side due to “problems within the team”.Sources told The Namibian Sport that a conflict between Samaria and newly appointed caretaker coach Ronnie Kanalelo was the cause of Samaria’s possible exit from the team.Samaria’s job, who has won back-to-back cup titles with BA during the past three seasons, was said to be threatened after the arrival of Kanalelo.Kanalelo, who was appointed on February 2 this year, has been shouting instructions to players from the bench since then, a situation which is said to have made Samaria uneasy in his job.When contacted for comment yesterday, Samaria said he was not leaving BA at this stage, but was considering an offer from Tigers.”I am still the head coach of the team and I have not made up my mind.Yes, I can confirm that there are problems in the team, but I first need to see my chairman (Kandas Paulino) before I can make a decision,” he said.He said Tigers had approached him with an offer, but he has not accepted it yet.”I had talks with Tigers to listen to what they can offer and I also told them what I would expect in case I make up my mind.To be honest, it will be a career decision, but not a personal one I would make in case I leave BA.At this stage, I have not decided to leave the team and join another one yet,” he said.Samaria has not attended the team’s training for the past week and did not accompany the team to Keetmanshoop for their match against Blue Waters.