WITH log leaders Black Africa not in action this weekend, the focus turns to the chasing pack as well as the relegation battle in the MTC Premiership.
With the league nearing the end of the first round, Black Africa have opened up a 10-point lead and are now odds on favourites to win the league title.
The chasing pack, led by defending champions African Stars, Mighty Gunners and Citizens, however, all have a game in hand and can narrow the gap with victories this weekend.
African Stars host a struggling Blue Waters at the Sam Nujoma Stadium on Friday night and should start as favourites, although nothing can be taken for granted, especially after their shock 2-1 defeat to Citizens on Tuesday night.
On that occasion, Citizens caught them with swift counterattacks, and Stars’ defence, especially at left back was severely exposed.
Stars, however, have a lot of quality and depth and have the personnel to rise to the challenge.
They have a solid defence led by Pat Nevin Uanivi and Ivan Kamberipa, while they have a lot of options in midfield where national captain Ronald Ketjijere, Protash Kabwe, Alfeus Handura, Engelhard Kahua, Neville Tjiueza, Aubrey Amseb, Gustav Isaak and their Comoran recruit Youssouf Ibroihim will all be fighting for places in the starting line up.
Especially the latter three have been in sparkling form this season, creating numerous chances with their speed and trickery and Blue Waters will be hard pressed to contain them.
In attack strikers Crispin Mbewe and Roger Katjiteo have been in fine form with six and five goals respectively and they will be out to increase their tally.
Blue Waters, however, are struggling at the foot of the table and will be fighting for survival.
Their former South African coach Cliff Ntsoereng was fired in January following their poor start to the season, but new coach, Christy Guruseb has not fared much better and Blue Waters are currently second last on the log on nine points from 12 matches.
Despite their poor position, their club secretary Tostao Imbili remained hopeful that their form will improve.
“It is disappointing but we are trying to restructure the team and we will hopefully bounce back during the second round. We will bring in some new, quality players when the transfer window opens again,” he said.
Besides Stars, Blue Waters face another tough hurdle on Sunday when they take on Unam at the Unam stadium. Unam were rather lucky to draw 1-1 to Tura Magic on Tuesday evening and Blue Waters can expect a strong backlash on Sunday.
“We were not good at all against Tura Magic and if the players are honest with themselves they will agree. We need to improve drastically for our next match against Blue Waters,” Unam coach Woody Jacobs said after the Magic encounter.
Third-placed Life Fighters will be out to maintain their impressive start when they host Eleven Arrows in Otjiwarongo, while fourth-placed Mighty Gunners host Civics in Otjiwarongo on Saturday afternoon in an important match for both teams.
Gunners need to get back to winning ways if they want to prove their title credentials. They led the log in the early stages of the league but were overtaken by BA in the new year, following some indifferent results.
In fact, they have only picked up one point over their last three matches and with their deficit to BA now being 11 points, they will have to collect maximum points to remain in the title hunt.
But for Civics, too, a victory is very important since they are struggling in 13th position just above the relegation zone, but they will be boosted by last weekend’s 2-1 away victory against Life Fighters.
Citizens will also be boosted by their mid-week victory against African Stars, and will be out to maintain their momentum when they host Julinho Sporting on Saturday afternoon.
Coach George Ochurub has worked wonders with the unfashionable club, which is currently fifth on the log on 20 points, and with a match in hand on BA, they can still have a say in the title race.
In another matches this weekend ninth placed Tigers take on Young Brazilians at the Sam Nujoma Stadium on Saturday evening.
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