First defeat for Pirates

ORLANDO Pirates suffered their first defeat of the season when they lost 1-0 to African Stars on Friday night.

A fired-up Stars gave an inspired performance in front of about 3 000 fans at the Sam Nujoma Stadium and fully deserved their victory. Brouwers Litombo capped a fine performance by scoring the winning goal just after halftime when he pounced onto a loose ball in the box to hit the ball high into the net.Stars had several more chances, with Litombo nearly scoring a second, while a cracker by Dennis Ngueza was tipped over the bar.Pirates seemed lacklustre and devoid of ideas, and couldn’t make an impact on Stars’ defence which was well marshalled by Andrew Tjahikika.In midfield, Congo Hindjou continued his comeback trail but he was substituted at halftime and it was instead Ninja Karongee who stole the show with a tireless performance.He tackled courageously, set up several attacks and ran his heart out.Towards the end of the match he had to leave the field when severe cramps set in, which gave an indication of his whole-hearted effort.OSHAKATI BEAT TIGERS On Saturday, Oshakati City scored a valuable 2-1 away victory against Tigers at the Sam Nujoma Stadium.Tigers took the lead shortly before halftime when Tangeni Shipahu beat the offside trap and stabbed the ball past Oshakati’s keeper Melksidek Shiku from close range.But Oshakati struck back immediately when they forced a corner a minute later and Jackson Nuule blasted a clearance through a crowded box and into the net.Oshakati took the lead through a great goal by Raphael Nuumbembe.Frans Kuume sent a pinpoint centre into the box and a flying Nuumbembe lunged in at the far post to stab the ball into the net.For Oshakati, Muna Katupose was dangerous upfront, while Kleophas David sent some quality crosses from the right wing.Defender Frans Kuume however was the man of the match after a great defensive display.He saved a certain goal by clearing a shot by Shipahu off the line in the first half and then provided a pinpoint cross for Nuumbembe’s winning goal.ARROWS, SKW DRAW Eleven Arrows managed to hold Cymot SKW to a goalless draw at the SKW field on Saturday.Neither team created many chances in a match dominated by poor ball control and poor options by both sides.In the first half Robson Haitamba missed an easy chance for Arrows when he shot wide with only the goalie to beat, while Johnny Stephanus and Elias Lisaku missed good chances for SKW in the second half.Otherwise it was quite a dull affair battled out in the midfield.RAMBLERS, GUNNERS DRAW In Otjiwarongo, Ramblers managed to hold Mighty Gunners to a one-all draw.Gunners opened the scoring halfway through the first half when David Anton headed in a long throw-in by Victor Amakali, but Samson John equalised 15 minutes later.Ramblers had a goal disallowed late in the game when Bernadine Mbilizi hit the back of the net after a great run from defence, but the goal was disallowed for offside.Ramblers are now second on the log, a point behind Black Africa, but their coach Tollie van Wyk was not happy with the result.”I’m very disappointed with the result, because a victory would have taken us to the top and given us a gap on the other teams.I don’t want to attack the referees, but the linesman’s mistake cost us a clear victory,” he said.Gunners’ coach Dawid Snewe also felt that they could have won the match.”A great shot by David Anton in the final minutes hit the upright.In the past we struggled without our first choice goalie, Dawid Vesevete, but now he is back in the team and we don’t need to stand back for anybody,” he said.BLUE WATERS’ WOES CONTINUE In Walvis Bay, APS Blue Waters’ dismal season continued when they were held to a 3-all draw by bottom-of-the-log Fedics United.Blue Waters took a 2-1 halftime lead through a brace by Denver Kaoseb, while Jacobus Xeingob replied for Fedics.But the visitors fought back superbly after the break to take a 3-2 through goals by Glenn Wells and Roberto Gurirab.They seemed to be heading for a shock victory, but a final minute goal by Kenny Malgas gave Blue Waters a share of the spoils.Blue Waters’ coach Sparks Gottlieb was highly disappointed with the officiating, saying that a linesman’s error led to Fedics’ second goal.The ball hit the post before our defenders managed to kick it way.The linesman slipped and fell but when he got up again, he awarded the goal and pointed to the centre spot.I couldn’t believe it,” he said.Fedics remain bottom of the log on one point, while Blue Waters are just two places above them on two points.www.namibiasport.com.naBrouwers Litombo capped a fine performance by scoring the winning goal just after halftime when he pounced onto a loose ball in the box to hit the ball high into the net.Stars had several more chances, with Litombo nearly scoring a second, while a cracker by Dennis Ngueza was tipped over the bar.Pirates seemed lacklustre and devoid of ideas, and couldn’t make an impact on Stars’ defence which was well marshalled by Andrew Tjahikika.In midfield, Congo Hindjou continued his comeback trail but he was substituted at halftime and it was instead Ninja Karongee who stole the show with a tireless performance.He tackled courageously, set up several attacks and ran his heart out.Towards the end of the match he had to leave the field when severe cramps set in, which gave an indication of his whole-hearted effort.OSHAKATI BEAT TIGERS On Saturday, Oshakati City scored a valuable 2-1 away victory against Tigers at the Sam Nujoma Stadium.Tigers took the lead shortly before halftime when Tangeni Shipahu beat the offside trap and stabbed the ball past Oshakati’s keeper Melksidek Shiku from close range.But Oshakati struck back immediately when they forced a corner a minute later and Jackson Nuule blasted a clearance through a crowded box and into the net.Oshakati took the lead through a great goal by Raphael Nuumbembe.Frans Kuume sent a pinpoint centre into the box and a flying Nuumbembe lunged in at the far post to stab the ball into the net.For Oshakati, Muna Katupose was dangerous upfront, while Kleophas David sent some quality crosses from the right wing.Defender Frans Kuume however was the man of the match after a great defensive display.He saved a certain goal by clearing a shot by Shipahu off the line in the first half and then provided a pinpoint cross for Nuumbembe’s winning goal.ARROWS, SKW DRAW Eleven Arrows managed to hold Cymot SKW to a goalless draw at the SKW field on Saturday.Neither team created many chances in a match dominated by poor ball control and poor options by both sides.In the first half Robson Haitamba missed an easy chance for Arrows when he shot wide with only the goalie to beat, while Johnny Stephanus and Elias Lisaku missed good chances for SKW in the second half.Otherwise it was quite a dull affair battled out in the midfield.RAMBLERS, GUNNERS DRAW In Otjiwarongo, Ramblers managed to hold Mighty Gunners to a one-all draw.Gunners opened the scoring halfway through the first half when David Anton headed in a long throw-in by Victor Amakali, but Samson John equalised 15 minutes later.Ramblers had a goal disallowed late in the game when Bernadine Mbilizi hit the back of the net after a great run from defence, but the goal was disallowed for offside.Ramblers are now second on the log, a point behind Black Africa, but their coach Tollie van Wyk was not happy with the result.”I’m very disappointed with the result, because a victory would have taken us to the top and given us a gap on the other teams.I don’t want to attack the referees, but the linesman’s mistake cost us a clear victory,” he said.Gunners’ coach Dawid Snewe also felt that they could have won the match.”A great shot by David Anton in the final minutes hit the upright.In the past we struggled without our first choice goalie, Dawid Vesevete, but now he is back in the team and we don’t need to stand back for anybody,” he said.BLUE WATERS’ WOES CONTINUE In Walvis Bay, APS Blue Waters’ dismal season continued when they were held to a 3-all draw by bottom-of-the-log Fedics United.Blue Waters took a 2-1 halftime lead through a bra
ce by Denver Kaoseb, while Jacobus Xeingob replied for Fedics.But the visitors fought back superbly after the break to take a 3-2 through goals by Glenn Wells and Roberto Gurirab.They seemed to be heading for a shock victory, but a final minute goal by Kenny Malgas gave Blue Waters a share of the spoils.Blue Waters’ coach Sparks Gottlieb was highly disappointed with the officiating, saying that a linesman’s error led to Fedics’ second goal.The ball hit the post before our defenders managed to kick it way.The linesman slipped and fell but when he got up again, he awarded the goal and pointed to the centre spot.I couldn’t believe it,” he said.Fedics remain bottom of the log on one point, while Blue Waters are just two places above them on two points.www.namibiasport.com.na