Civics face epic battles

DEFENDING champions Civics will open the new premiership season with epic ties against two of the powerhouses in Namibian football.

They will first go up against Black Africa on Saturday in what could be an explosive affair, before meeting Orlando Pirates in a clash that is set to test the champions to the ultimate. Civics, who won the league for the second time last season, will be campaigning for their third title in a row, but their path to that goal won’t be easy.Meeting both Black Africa and Pirates in one weekend will require a full-strength Civics side on both days, as gaining early points is each team’s objective.Civics ended their 22 matches last season with 16 wins and five draws, and only lost one match.The record is impressive as they are the only team to have won 16 matches from a league that has only 12 teams, a system that was introduced last season.Saturday’s opponents, Black Africa, ended in a disappointing sixth spot last season and as one of the most exciting teams to watch, the ‘Lively Lions’ are expected to up their game and live up to their name this season.Pirates, who ended in a respectable fourth spot last season, will be vying for the top-three bracket this time around and coach Brian Isaacks seems to have gathered some good talent to do this job.Civics striker William Chilufya and Heini Isaacks, despite being a attacking midfielder, blasted home 55 goals last season and according to some new players in attack, they want to surpass this mark.The two matches will be top-drawer encounters and there is little possibility that any of the three teams will be clear runaway victors.Golden Bees, who made their return to the elite league after a one-season spell in the first division, will welcome a devastating Ramblers side in their backyard on Saturday, before taking on the non-nonsense Tigers side the following day at the same venue.Friends, who also resurfaced in the premiership after a one-season stint in the lower division, will have to deal with the fireworks that will come their way in their tie against Orlando Pirates on Saturday.Friends will then encounter some missiles from Black Africa who will possibly be licking their wounds after their tie against Civics.Premiership survivors Sport Klub Windhoek (SKW) are hosting coastal sides Eleven Arrows and Blue Waters – matches that could go either way.SKW were lucky to survive relegation at the end of last season after they miraculously beat Orlando Pirates in their last match to push their tally up to 23 points.Chief Santos ended on 18 points, after losing their last match.Civics, who won the league for the second time last season, will be campaigning for their third title in a row, but their path to that goal won’t be easy.Meeting both Black Africa and Pirates in one weekend will require a full-strength Civics side on both days, as gaining early points is each team’s objective.Civics ended their 22 matches last season with 16 wins and five draws, and only lost one match.The record is impressive as they are the only team to have won 16 matches from a league that has only 12 teams, a system that was introduced last season.Saturday’s opponents, Black Africa, ended in a disappointing sixth spot last season and as one of the most exciting teams to watch, the ‘Lively Lions’ are expected to up their game and live up to their name this season.Pirates, who ended in a respectable fourth spot last season, will be vying for the top-three bracket this time around and coach Brian Isaacks seems to have gathered some good talent to do this job.Civics striker William Chilufya and Heini Isaacks, despite being a attacking midfielder, blasted home 55 goals last season and according to some new players in attack, they want to surpass this mark.The two matches will be top-drawer encounters and there is little possibility that any of the three teams will be clear runaway victors.Golden Bees, who made their return to the elite league after a one-season spell in the first division, will welcome a devastating Ramblers side in their backyard on Saturday, before taking on the non-nonsense Tigers side the following day at the same venue.Friends, who also resurfaced in the premiership after a one-season stint in the lower division, will have to deal with the fireworks that will come their way in their tie against Orlando Pirates on Saturday.Friends will then encounter some missiles from Black Africa who will possibly be licking their wounds after their tie against Civics.Premiership survivors Sport Klub Windhoek (SKW) are hosting coastal sides Eleven Arrows and Blue Waters – matches that could go either way.SKW were lucky to survive relegation at the end of last season after they miraculously beat Orlando Pirates in their last match to push their tally up to 23 points.Chief Santos ended on 18 points, after losing their last match.