Civics, ‘Birds’ in Cup semis

CIVICS will meet Blue Waters in the FNB Cup semi-final in Windhoek next month, while premiership rookies SKW have a date with African Stars in the other fixture of the same competition.

The semi-finals will be played on Friday, December 16 at the Sam Nujoma Stadium in Windhoek, with the finals scheduled for the next day at the same venue. Civics worked their way to the semis by first ousting Tigers with an impressive 4-1 victory on Saturday at the Kuisebmond Stadium, before going past Black Africa with a 2-1 win at the same venue yesterday.SKW have reached their first semi-final in a cup competition after being promoted to the elite league this season, but their path was not easy.As expected, Cymot buried Black Morocco Chiefs 3-1 in their opening match of the competition at the Oshakati Independence Stadium at that town on Saturday, before finishing off Chief Santos in a marathon penalty shoot-out that saw them 8-9 winners after a 1-1 draw at full-time yesterday.Blue Waters sent relegated Friends packing with a 3-1 margin on Saturday, before being held to a 1-1 stalemate after 90 minutes by Orlando Pirates, whom they beat 4-2 on penalties to advance to the semis yesterday.Midfielder Heinrich Isaacs and defender Mentos Hipondoka were on target for Civics in a crucial win against big shots Black Africa, who won a record five cup competitions in a row last season.A goal by Tjono Jagger could not help the ‘Lively Lions’ to continue with their cup-hauling tradition yesterday, leaving coach Bobby Samaria pondering on what the season has in store for the side.Pirates striker Saul Coetzee missed a penalty that could have kept them in the match during their shoot-out against Blue Waters yesterday.At Oshakati, SKW were the surprise package with their gutsy performance against Santos, who seem to be struggling since the start of the league this season.A goal by SKW’s powerful striker Arent von Stryk saw them draw level against the Tsumeb side to send the encounter into penalties, which swayed in favour of SKW.In other matches on Saturday, Tigers, who were tipped to oust Civics, were humiliated at their second home, while Eleven Arrows found themselves holding the wrong end of the stick as Pirates buried two goals.Ramblers got the upset of the weekend when premiership newcomers Touch & Go forced them into a penalty shoot-out which saw the Otavi-based side emerge as 6-5 winners after a 0-0 score at the end of the match.African Stars were also made to kick penalties as Rundu-based United Stars held them to a 1-1 draw after normal time.Stars won 5-4 on penalties on Saturday, but goals from Brouwers Litombo and Pat Uanivi gave them entry into the semi-finals in their 2-0 over Touch & Go yesterday.The FNB Cup has a prize of N$160 000 for the winners, with the runners-up set to collect N$70 000.There won’t be third- and fourth-place playoffs, and both losers in the semi-finals will walk away with N$20 000.FNB spokesperson Cassius Moetie said last week that the total sponsorship for the tournament is N$500 000, and apart from the N$278 500 that will be used as prize money, the rest of the money has been spent on the teams’ travelling expenses.He said part of the money was also used for the branded gear that the teams received before going into the tournament, to pay match fees for referees, stadium rent and security guards.The trophies and medals, as well as the general administration costs of the event, will also be covered by the sponsorship.Civics worked their way to the semis by first ousting Tigers with an impressive 4-1 victory on Saturday at the Kuisebmond Stadium, before going past Black Africa with a 2-1 win at the same venue yesterday.SKW have reached their first semi-final in a cup competition after being promoted to the elite league this season, but their path was not easy.As expected, Cymot buried Black Morocco Chiefs 3-1 in their opening match of the competition at the Oshakati Independence Stadium at that town on Saturday, before finishing off Chief Santos in a marathon penalty shoot-out that saw them 8-9 winners after a 1-1 draw at full-time yesterday.Blue Waters sent relegated Friends packing with a 3-1 margin on Saturday, before being held to a 1-1 stalemate after 90 minutes by Orlando Pirates, whom they beat 4-2 on penalties to advance to the semis yesterday.Midfielder Heinrich Isaacs and defender Mentos Hipondoka were on target for Civics in a crucial win against big shots Black Africa, who won a record five cup competitions in a row last season.A goal by Tjono Jagger could not help the ‘Lively Lions’ to continue with their cup-hauling tradition yesterday, leaving coach Bobby Samaria pondering on what the season has in store for the side.Pirates striker Saul Coetzee missed a penalty that could have kept them in the match during their shoot-out against Blue Waters yesterday.At Oshakati, SKW were the surprise package with their gutsy performance against Santos, who seem to be struggling since the start of the league this season.A goal by SKW’s powerful striker Arent von Stryk saw them draw level against the Tsumeb side to send the encounter into penalties, which swayed in favour of SKW.In other matches on Saturday, Tigers, who were tipped to oust Civics, were humiliated at their second home, while Eleven Arrows found themselves holding the wrong end of the stick as Pirates buried two goals.Ramblers got the upset of the weekend when premiership newcomers Touch & Go forced them into a penalty shoot-out which saw the Otavi-based side emerge as 6-5 winners after a 0-0 score at the end of the match.African Stars were also made to kick penalties as Rundu-based United Stars held them to a 1-1 draw after normal time.Stars won 5-4 on penalties on Saturday, but goals from Brouwers Litombo and Pat Uanivi gave them entry into the semi-finals in their 2-0 over Touch & Go yesterday.The FNB Cup has a prize of N$160 000 for the winners, with the runners-up set to collect N$70 000.There won’t be third- and fourth-place playoffs, and both losers in the semi-finals will walk away with N$20 000.FNB spokesperson Cassius Moetie said last week that the total sponsorship for the tournament is N$500 000, and apart from the N$278 500 that will be used as prize money, the rest of the money has been spent on the teams’ travelling expenses.He said part of the money was also used for the branded gear that the teams received before going into the tournament, to pay match fees for referees, stadium rent and security guards.The trophies and medals, as well as the general administration costs of the event, will also be covered by the sponsorship.