Civics will be champs: Congo

ONE of Namibia’s most capped footballers, Congo Hindjou, reckons that his team Civics will successfully defend the league title, despite meeting their closest rivals Ramblers in a crucial match this weekend.

The Brave Warriors midfield kingpin says he has no doubt in his mind that the league will be in the bag after the Ramblers encounter at the Independence Stadium on Saturday. Kick-off is at 17h00.Ramblers are two points behind Civics, but both teams have five matches to play before the league closes at the end of this month.The league winners will receive half-a-million and Hindjou believes that it will end up in the bank account of Civics, who were also champions last season.”The match on Saturday will decide who will win the league, because the race is so tight between the two teams.Ramblers is a good side, but in a one-on-one situation, we are a better side,” he said.Defender Michael Pienaar of Ramblers disagrees, saying that his team has a better chance, as they will be under no pressure.He said although Civics is a good side, he has confidence in his team mates that they will pull it through and be eventual champions.”But the most important thing is to collect the three points against Civics and then we will take it match by match,” he said.Hindjou, who has 68 caps for the Brave Warriors and over 80 matches for Civics under his belt, says his side was poised to win the league because they lost out on the NFA Cup.”We wanted to make it a double with the NFA Cup, but changes in the coaching staff led to several problems in the team and we could therefore not make it to the finals,” he said.Civics have 40 points from their 17 matches, with Ramblers are in second position with 38.Both teams still have tough ties after this weekend’s matches before claiming the title.”We want to win it fairly.We don’t want favours from any team.The spirit in the team is good and we have our former coach (Woody Jacobs) back together with owner Helmuth Scharnowski.There are no excuses,” Hindjou said.Pienaar, who now has 15 caps as national player, said they don’t fear any team, but will take each game as seriously as the one against Civics.”Touch & Go are our next opponents and we are going to be as serious as we are against Civics.The good thing is that the players are focused and hungry to taste glory,” he said.Ramblers also missed out on the final spot of the NFA Cup against Orlando Pirates and will hope to win the league to add more money to their kitty.After the league decider at the weekend, Civics still need to play against Tigers, Blue Waters and Eleven Arrows away, before going to Otavi to meet Touch & Go in their last match.Ramblers still face Chief Santos and Touch & Go at home, before they tackle Oshakati City away, and square up against Tigers in their last match.Kick-off is at 17h00.Ramblers are two points behind Civics, but both teams have five matches to play before the league closes at the end of this month.The league winners will receive half-a-million and Hindjou believes that it will end up in the bank account of Civics, who were also champions last season.”The match on Saturday will decide who will win the league, because the race is so tight between the two teams.Ramblers is a good side, but in a one-on-one situation, we are a better side,” he said.Defender Michael Pienaar of Ramblers disagrees, saying that his team has a better chance, as they will be under no pressure.He said although Civics is a good side, he has confidence in his team mates that they will pull it through and be eventual champions.”But the most important thing is to collect the three points against Civics and then we will take it match by match,” he said.Hindjou, who has 68 caps for the Brave Warriors and over 80 matches for Civics under his belt, says his side was poised to win the league because they lost out on the NFA Cup.”We wanted to make it a double with the NFA Cup, but changes in the coaching staff led to several problems in the team and we could therefore not make it to the finals,” he said.Civics have 40 points from their 17 matches, with Ramblers are in second position with 38.Both teams still have tough ties after this weekend’s matches before claiming the title.”We want to win it fairly.We don’t want favours from any team.The spirit in the team is good and we have our former coach (Woody Jacobs) back together with owner Helmuth Scharnowski.There are no excuses,” Hindjou said.Pienaar, who now has 15 caps as national player, said they don’t fear any team, but will take each game as seriously as the one against Civics.”Touch & Go are our next opponents and we are going to be as serious as we are against Civics.The good thing is that the players are focused and hungry to taste glory,” he said.Ramblers also missed out on the final spot of the NFA Cup against Orlando Pirates and will hope to win the league to add more money to their kitty.After the league decider at the weekend, Civics still need to play against Tigers, Blue Waters and Eleven Arrows away, before going to Otavi to meet Touch & Go in their last match.Ramblers still face Chief Santos and Touch & Go at home, before they tackle Oshakati City away, and square up against Tigers in their last match.