From the Sidelines: Pirates can make it

THE Namibia Premiership will culminate in what could be a bang and Orlando Pirates can ensure that happens as they aim to win their first league title ever.

There will unfortunately be only one winner in the premier league and the contest will be between second-placed Civics and log leaders Orlando Pirates. Although both will take on different opponents who have nothing to lose in the end, die-hard fans will still expect to see the best from their last matches.There is not much to write about on the capabilities of these two teams, but like in any other situation, I will have to make a choice.Earlier, I thought Civics will take the title for the fourth consecutive time, but looking at their performance against Sport Klub Windhoek (SKW) last weekend, they lacked the killer instinct.They drew that match, but a win could have kept them in a favourably position to clinch the title.Civics coach Ricardo Mannetti will agree that his side struggled to find their customary rhythm against SKW, which never stood back.Civics strikers were not clinical upfront and fired blanks and their defence was put under immense pressure.As they went into the cloakrooms at halftime without a goal, I knew that Civics would never go past SKW on that Saturday afternoon.They struggled in all departments and could just not settle in.Mannetti stood on the sidelines for a longer period than he normally does as he tried to dish out instructions which appeared to have fallen on deaf ears.This time, Civics meet minnows Fedics United at the same venue and one wonders if they will be chasing shadows again.At the same time last Saturday, Pirates went into the break without a goal too, as Eleven Arrows tore their defence apart.But, after the changeover, Brian Isaacs showed his coaching skills and his strikers were more purposeful despite the lead that Arrows had taken.They emerged as 2-1 winners and their play showed that they are championship material as they launched superb attacks.I think the danger man in the Pirates side on Saturday will be Johannes Seibeb, while Paulus Shipanga, Riaan Cloete and Klaas Blom can all add to the misery of Mighty Gunners as they aim to hunt down the first league title for the Buccaneers.Pirates have to win the match to quench the thirst of their no-nonsense supporters.The win will be important for their fans who have missed out on major cup competitions this season.It will be a reward for players who have worked hard throughout the season to keep their team in the running for the title.They have everything to play for as they will be in line for a handsome compensation by businessman and club owner Hendrik Dawids.I hear fat bonuses are in the offing if they clinch the title.In fact, Pirates will be the second team ever to win half a million Namibian dollars after Civics won it last year.Isaacs can become the first coach for Pirates to win the league and all the players who will be involved will make their own history too.Dawids will become the first owner in Pirates history to win the title, while the Mokati Stadium, the base of former Life Fighters Football Club, will be the soil on which Pirates will celebrate their first victory.In case Pirates fulfil their promises of making history on Saturday, it ought to be a fun-filled celebration for all the die-hard Pirates supporters who are at times hard to please and who have been accused of hooliganism on several occasions.My word is, there is no chance to fail the grade now.For Pirates, the coveted title is within reach, just grab it!Although both will take on different opponents who have nothing to lose in the end, die-hard fans will still expect to see the best from their last matches.There is not much to write about on the capabilities of these two teams, but like in any other situation, I will have to make a choice.Earlier, I thought Civics will take the title for the fourth consecutive time, but looking at their performance against Sport Klub Windhoek (SKW) last weekend, they lacked the killer instinct.They drew that match, but a win could have kept them in a favourably position to clinch the title.Civics coach Ricardo Mannetti will agree that his side struggled to find their customary rhythm against SKW, which never stood back.Civics strikers were not clinical upfront and fired blanks and their defence was put under immense pressure.As they went into the cloakrooms at halftime without a goal, I knew that Civics would never go past SKW on that Saturday afternoon.They struggled in all departments and could just not settle in.Mannetti stood on the sidelines for a longer period than he normally does as he tried to dish out instructions which appeared to have fallen on deaf ears.This time, Civics meet minnows Fedics United at the same venue and one wonders if they will be chasing shadows again.At the same time last Saturday, Pirates went into the break without a goal too, as Eleven Arrows tore their defence apart.But, after the changeover, Brian Isaacs showed his coaching skills and his strikers were more purposeful despite the lead that Arrows had taken.They emerged as 2-1 winners and their play showed that they are championship material as they launched superb attacks.I think the danger man in the Pirates side on Saturday will be Johannes Seibeb, while Paulus Shipanga, Riaan Cloete and Klaas Blom can all add to the misery of Mighty Gunners as they aim to hunt down the first league title for the Buccaneers.Pirates have to win the match to quench the thirst of their no-nonsense supporters.The win will be important for their fans who have missed out on major cup competitions this season.It will be a reward for players who have worked hard throughout the season to keep their team in the running for the title.They have everything to play for as they will be in line for a handsome compensation by businessman and club owner Hendrik Dawids.I hear fat bonuses are in the offing if they clinch the title.In fact, Pirates will be the second team ever to win half a million Namibian dollars after Civics won it last year.Isaacs can become the first coach for Pirates to win the league and all the players who will be involved will make their own history too.Dawids will become the first owner in Pirates history to win the title, while the Mokati Stadium, the base of former Life Fighters Football Club, will be the soil on which Pirates will celebrate their first victory.In case Pirates fulfil their promises of making history on Saturday, it ought to be a fun-filled celebration for all the die-hard Pirates supporters who are at times hard to please and who have been accused of hooliganism on several occasions.My word is, there is no chance to fail the grade now.For Pirates, the coveted title is within reach, just grab it!