Civics in for a rough ride

FORMER Mamelodi Sundowns and Brave Warriors goalkeeper Ronnie Kanalelo will be in goal tonight, as he will try to keep a clean slate in a top-of-the-table battle against Civics at the SKW Stadium.

Action kicks off at 19h00 in the MTC Namibia Premier League tie, the first of the weekend matches as the league resumes after a month due to a domestic cup competition. ‘The Magnet’, as Kanalelo is known, first watched his side as head coach from the sidelines when they beat Civics 1-0 in the first round of the league, but this time he has to block, catch and knock away balls from the Civics strikers when he will be employed between the sticks.Kanalelo, current goalkeeper coach of the Brave Warriors, has not lost his acrobatic twists or his ability to lead his charges from the goal and tonight, it will be up to him to keep the score sheet intact by not conceding a goal.Civics top the league with 21 points, with BA in second spot with similar points.BA, in the running for the semi-final spot of the MTC NFA Cup at the end of this month, will be hoping to collect maximum points at the weekend to remain in the run.Civics, on their part, will aim to defend the league title they have won twice so far, after they were dumped out of the MTC Cup by Eleven Arrows last weekend.Civics mainly have to repair the damage and embarrassment caused by Arrows (3-1 loss) last weekend, but this will put them under pressure as their fans will demand a win at all costs.Both sides have won six matches, drawn three and lost two, but Civics have hammered away 23 goals, compared to BA which managed 13 in total.But this will be history tonight.BA have steadily made an impact in the league by climbing right to the second spot after a poor spell over the last two seasons.They have simply failed to capture the league title in over seven years now.A number of youngsters in BA do their job with a purpose on the field, while leading striker Jerome Louis made such an impression that Warriors coach Ben Bamfuchile has called him to the national camp.Louis has a huge appetite in front of goal and satisfies this with terrific strikes that evade goalkeepers almost on a regular basis.With a severely dented reputation after last weekend, Civics will look up to their prolific striker William Chilufya to do the job upfront, but that will depend on Kanalelo’s form and his defenders on the night.Civics will face another tough opponent in Orlando Pirates on Sunday, a match that will also have them under pressure as the ‘Buccaneers’ have been playing lively football of late.In essence, Civics will be put to the sword at the weekend and will be expected to prove what true champions are made of.’The Magnet’, as Kanalelo is known, first watched his side as head coach from the sidelines when they beat Civics 1-0 in the first round of the league, but this time he has to block, catch and knock away balls from the Civics strikers when he will be employed between the sticks.Kanalelo, current goalkeeper coach of the Brave Warriors, has not lost his acrobatic twists or his ability to lead his charges from the goal and tonight, it will be up to him to keep the score sheet intact by not conceding a goal.Civics top the league with 21 points, with BA in second spot with similar points.BA, in the running for the semi-final spot of the MTC NFA Cup at the end of this month, will be hoping to collect maximum points at the weekend to remain in the run.Civics, on their part, will aim to defend the league title they have won twice so far, after they were dumped out of the MTC Cup by Eleven Arrows last weekend.Civics mainly have to repair the damage and embarrassment caused by Arrows (3-1 loss) last weekend, but this will put them under pressure as their fans will demand a win at all costs.Both sides have won six matches, drawn three and lost two, but Civics have hammered away 23 goals, compared to BA which managed 13 in total.But this will be history tonight.BA have steadily made an impact in the league by climbing right to the second spot after a poor spell over the last two seasons.They have simply failed to capture the league title in over seven years now.A number of youngsters in BA do their job with a purpose on the field, while leading striker Jerome Louis made such an impression that Warriors coach Ben Bamfuchile has called him to the national camp.Louis has a huge appetite in front of goal and satisfies this with terrific strikes that evade goalkeepers almost on a regular basis.With a severely dented reputation after last weekend, Civics will look up to their prolific striker William Chilufya to do the job upfront, but that will depend on Kanalelo’s form and his defenders on the night.Civics will face another tough opponent in Orlando Pirates on Sunday, a match that will also have them under pressure as the ‘Buccaneers’ have been playing lively football of late.In essence, Civics will be put to the sword at the weekend and will be expected to prove what true champions are made of.