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Clash against Tigers FC deserves proper prep – Haufiku 

Elias Hambongo of Blue Waters (right) in action against Albert Omari of Tigers. File photo

Coastal giants Ven Blue Waters FC spokesperson Mathias Haufiku says the upcoming encounter this weekend against Tigers FC undoubtedly deserves proper and thorough preparation.

With the Debmarine Premiership action set to resume on 18 January, Ven Blue Waters have had a disappointing run in the ongoing 2024/25 football season.

Having played seven matches, Ven Blue Waters, under the tutelage of axed coach Lucky Shipanga, managed only one win, four draws and two losses.

In a recent interview with Desert FM, Haufiku said preparation kicked off last Monday, and that the new technical team under Paulus Shipanga is hard at work fine-tuning his charges for the weekend’s fixture against both Tigers FC and FC Ongos.

“The match against Tigers FC is sort of a ‘traditional derby’. Two of the country’s oldest teams and the executive and players alike are looking forward to that encounter.

“We are giving it the necessary preparation and the attention it deserves. We also have our eyes on the FC Ongos’ encounter, but we will take it match by match and see how it goes.”

As for the appointment of Shipanga, the spokesperson said the team’s performance status is worrying.

“The results have not been too favourable to the team, considering the historical success nature of the club,” he said.

“There is no way that management could have just sat back and allowed the situation to continue without intervention. So, we came together as the executive to see how we can remedy the situation.”

Haufiku said the current position is not only unfavorable to the executive committee, but also to members, fans, players and the sponsor.

“It is not something that was prompted by us as the executive, it is more the entire Ven Blue Waters community,” he said.

Haufiku said the team brought in Shipanga and Mammie Kasaona so that the current misfortune could be something of the past.

“We took this route to turn the ship around. The technical team that left tried their best to do what they could. However, the arrival of the new technical team is to bring a different dynamic to our play – not just on the field of play, but off the field too.”

Haufiku said Ven Blue Waters is one of the most successful teams as far as the league is concerned.

“We have about four league trophies, which must make us one of the successful sides in the country,” he said.

Haufiku said Shipanga knows what is required of the team.

“No expectation is too big. We believe the set objectives are realistic and attainable. As the executive we stand fully behind Shipanga and the technical team, just as we stood behind the technical team that departed,” he said.

As for Shipanga’s contract, the spokesperson said they are currently ironing issues out.

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