Mighty Gunners finally broke their cup drought when they beat Unam 2-1 to win the Standard Bank Top 8 Cup on Saturday.
They had come close to winning silverware before, losing 3-2 to Civics in the 2021 NFA Cup final, and once again 3-2 to Young African in the 2017 Debmarine Cup final, but the ultimate prize still eluded them. On Saturday, however, the Class of 26, finally etched their names in history by winning the Top 8 Cup after a titanic battle against Unam.
Roberto Rugam gave Unam an early lead from the penalty spot but Gunners struck back with goals by Mutani Kariseb and Moses Iinji to give them the victory and N$600 000 first prize while Unam had to settle for N$300 000.
Gunners came out firing with Mashiku Muyeka leading their attacks and nearly took the lead when a shot cannoned off the upright.
Unam, however, struck with a quick counterattack and were awarded a penalty for a foul which Rugam duly put away to put them 1-0 ahead after early five minutes.
Gunners soon struck back when they won a free kick on the edge of Unam’s box and Kariseb produced a superb free kick, bending it over the wall and into the left hand corner to give Unam keeper Owen Gariseb no chance.
Gunners captain Olsen Ameb nearly increased their lead with a long range strike, while at the other end, Unam captain Paulus Amutenya also came close, but chances were few and far between as the teams mostly battled it out in the midfield.
After the break, Ferdinand Amutenya came close for Unam from a corner when his close range shot was somehow scrambled clear, but Gunners finished stronger, with Ameb having a header tipped over, while Iinji headed in the winner from the resulting corner.
Unam pushed hard in the closing stages but Gunners stood firm, with their defence well marshalled by Iinji and Given Mutuezu, as they finally won their elusive piece of silverware.
Gunners coach Katti Nambadi was ecstatic after the match.
“I am overwhelmed, I’m very excited. This is the first cup in the trophy cabinet of Mighty Gunners and I’m very happy for this group of players that came to the party, that came to rewrite the history of the club. I’m very happy for our supporters who travelled all the way from Otjiwarongo, to come and rally behind the team,” he said.
“It’s the first one, but this is not the end, we want to grow the team and also compete at the highest level, against the likes of African Stars, so this is not the end. We will make sure that we grow as a club, and then why not compete for the league title next year,” he added.
Gunners’ winger Bernard Horaseb was also elated.
“It’s a great feeling – I’m full of joy and happiness. Our hard work paid off and it’s an honour to be here and to win this cup. It’s the first time that I’m winning something so I’ll dedicate this one to my mother, she has always been there for me through thick and thin. This is also for our fans, for everyone that has been behind us, through good and bad days, this is for you and everyone in Namibia that supported us,” he said.
Unam coach Robert Nauseb said they will take the defeat on the chin and move forward.
“Obviously it’s not a good day at the office – I’m a bit sad but I don’t want to rub it off onto my players, we just have to take it on the chin, so we’ll move on and start working towards the NFA Cup, so there’s still something to play for. We’ll give them off until Tuesday and recuperate, and then we’ll take it from there,” he said.
Nauseb said they will add a few new players to the squad for next season.
“We probably need to beef up the squad a bit – we need about five or six new players, who we have already identified, but we’ll keep most of the squad that we have, so then we’ll see if we can challenge for the league again,” he said.
“I started with this team when coach Ronnie (Kanalelo) left, these boys we got them from the second division, and seeing them grow and fight for cups like these, just makes me happy. Today it’s not our happy ending but our happy endings will come,” he added.
