Dokkies injured as Wits gun for title

FORMER Brave Warriors striker Dokkies Schmidt has been ruled out for the rest of the season after he suffered a neck injury while playing for the South African second-division side Bloemfontein Young Tigers recently.

Schmidt suffered a minor fracture in his neck after he collided with an opposing player as he was going for a header during a crossed ball. He told The Namibian Sport yesterday that he would be out for the rest of the season.His team still needs to play six matches to complete its fixtures.The Namibian signed with the Mvela Golden League this season and has so far played nine matches.The Mvela Golden League is the second highest in South Africa after the Premier Soccer League (PSL).Schmidt said he sustained the injury during a match against Celtic in the Mangaung Cup.Young Tigers are currently third from the bottom and are facing relegation.They have played 25 matches, won five and drew seven.They have 22 points in total and their strikers have been on target 35 times so far.Unlike Schmidt, Bidvest Wits University, which has three Namibians in its team, is doing well and is on the verge of being promoted to the PSL next season.The Namibian players who have contributed to the successful league run of the Johannesburg-based side are defender Richard Gariseb, striker Paulus Shipanga and goalkeeper Danzyl Bruwer.Wits are topping the Mvela Golden League table with 61 points from their 25 matches.They have hit the back of the net 48 times.The trio were signed when the 2005/2006 season started towards the end of last year.Gariseb formerly played for Namibia premiership giants Orlando Pirates, while Shipanga was a key winger for former NPL champions Blue Waters.Bruwer, who played for Civics before he left for Wits, did not have the opportunity to make his second appearance in the CAF Champions League, after his former side qualified for the second round.The three players have all represented Namibia at senior level and with their current form and the good progress of their team which currently tops the log, their chances of being included in the national team cannot be ruled out.Bidvest Wits moved a step closer to Castle Premiership promotion after beating Winners Park at the weekend, whilst fellow title contenders Vasco Da Gama suffered a 4-1 defeat at the hands of Zulu Royals.Wits narrowly beat Winners Park 2-1 at the Bidvest Stadium and will next face Maritzburg United in Port Elizabeth on March 19.He told The Namibian Sport yesterday that he would be out for the rest of the season.His team still needs to play six matches to complete its fixtures.The Namibian signed with the Mvela Golden League this season and has so far played nine matches.The Mvela Golden League is the second highest in South Africa after the Premier Soccer League (PSL).Schmidt said he sustained the injury during a match against Celtic in the Mangaung Cup.Young Tigers are currently third from the bottom and are facing relegation.They have played 25 matches, won five and drew seven.They have 22 points in total and their strikers have been on target 35 times so far.Unlike Schmidt, Bidvest Wits University, which has three Namibians in its team, is doing well and is on the verge of being promoted to the PSL next season.The Namibian players who have contributed to the successful league run of the Johannesburg-based side are defender Richard Gariseb, striker Paulus Shipanga and goalkeeper Danzyl Bruwer.Wits are topping the Mvela Golden League table with 61 points from their 25 matches.They have hit the back of the net 48 times.The trio were signed when the 2005/2006 season started towards the end of last year.Gariseb formerly played for Namibia premiership giants Orlando Pirates, while Shipanga was a key winger for former NPL champions Blue Waters.Bruwer, who played for Civics before he left for Wits, did not have the opportunity to make his second appearance in the CAF Champions League, after his former side qualified for the second round.The three players have all represented Namibia at senior level and with their current form and the good progress of their team which currently tops the log, their chances of being included in the national team cannot be ruled out.Bidvest Wits moved a step closer to Castle Premiership promotion after beating Winners Park at the weekend, whilst fellow title contenders Vasco Da Gama suffered a 4-1 defeat at the hands of Zulu Royals.Wits narrowly beat Winners Park 2-1 at the Bidvest Stadium and will next face Maritzburg United in Port Elizabeth on March 19.