Hansa Cup quarter-finals set for Grootfontein

The Hansa Pilsener Cup competition for first and second division teams reaches the quarter-final stage this weekend with matches to be played at Grootfontein.

The quarter-finals were originally supposed to take place in Mariental but the organisers changed the venue since most of the eight quarter-finalists come from northern Namibia. The only southern-based team that made it through to the last eight is Deportivo Alaves of Rehoboth, but they had to depend on a slice of luck to win their first round match against Flamingo in Mariental on March 2.The teams were tied one-all at the end of full time before Deportivo went on to win the penalty shootout 5-4.The Erongo region will be represented by PC Blue Boys who also went through on penalties, after beating Hotspurs 3-2 after a fulltime score of 1-all.Invincible FC is the only team from the Khomas region to go through after they beat Major Power from Ohangwena 2-1.The remaining five teams in the quarter-finals are all from the north.United Stars from Rundu beat Try Again from Keetmanshoop 3-1 and will now come up against Kingfisher FC from the Caprivi region.In the first round Kingfisher was pushed all the way before beating Young Rangers of the Oshikoto region 3-2.Blue Birds FC of the Omusati region beat Free State United of the Hardap Region 3-1 and will now face Windhoek’s Invincible FC.Eleven Brothers of Otjiwarongo beat Pubs of Outjo 2-1 and will now face Deportivo Alaves from Rehoboth.Vietnam Rangers of the Oshana region were pushed all the way before beating Rundu Chiefs 5-4 on penalties after a goalless draw at the end of normal time.Vietnam Rangers will now meet PC Blue Boys in Saturday’s quarter-finals.The quarter-finals start at 12h00 with United Stars taking on King Fisher, while Blue Birds meet Invincible at 14h00.Deportivo Alaves take on Eleven Brothers at 16h00 while PC Blue Boys take on Vietnam Rangers at 18h00.NFA’S BIGGEST COMPETITION The Hansa Cup is the NFA’s biggest competition with more than 300 first and second division teams taking part in its preliminary round matches.All 13 regions as well as the Northern and Southern Stream First Divisions held preliminary knockout competitions in January, after which 16 teams progressed through to the first round.The total sponsorship of the Hansa Cup amounts to N$500 000, with the winners due to receive N$90 000, the runners-up N$40 000 and the losing semifinalists N$20 000 each.Tough Guys from the Omaheke Region won the inaugural Hansa Cup in 2006, while Onambula United from the Ohangwena region won the trophy in 2007.But both teams were knocked out in their preliminary round matches of this year’s competition, with the result that a new champion will be crowned this year.The semi-finals are scheduled to take place on April 19 and the final on May 10 at venues that must still be determined.The NFA has advised spectators that no bottles or weapons will be allowed into the stadium and that all individuals and cars entering the stadium will be searched.The entrance fee is N$20 for adults, N$10 for children under 12 and N$10 for vehicles.www.namibiasport.com.naThe only southern-based team that made it through to the last eight is Deportivo Alaves of Rehoboth, but they had to depend on a slice of luck to win their first round match against Flamingo in Mariental on March 2.The teams were tied one-all at the end of full time before Deportivo went on to win the penalty shootout 5-4.The Erongo region will be represented by PC Blue Boys who also went through on penalties, after beating Hotspurs 3-2 after a fulltime score of 1-all.Invincible FC is the only team from the Khomas region to go through after they beat Major Power from Ohangwena 2-1.The remaining five teams in the quarter-finals are all from the north.United Stars from Rundu beat Try Again from Keetmanshoop 3-1 and will now come up against Kingfisher FC from the Caprivi region.In the first round Kingfisher was pushed all the way before beating Young Rangers of the Oshikoto region 3-2.Blue Birds FC of the Omusati region beat Free State United of the Hardap Region 3-1 and will now face Windhoek’s Invincible FC.Eleven Brothers of Otjiwarongo beat Pubs of Outjo 2-1 and will now face Deportivo Alaves from Rehoboth.Vietnam Rangers of the Oshana region were pushed all the way before beating Rundu Chiefs 5-4 on penalties after a goalless draw at the end of normal time.Vietnam Rangers will now meet PC Blue Boys in Saturday’s quarter-finals.The quarter-finals start at 12h00 with United Stars taking on King Fisher, while Blue Birds meet Invincible at 14h00.Deportivo Alaves take on Eleven Brothers at 16h00 while PC Blue Boys take on Vietnam Rangers at 18h00.NFA’S BIGGEST COMPETITION The Hansa Cup is the NFA’s biggest competition with more than 300 first and second division teams taking part in its preliminary round matches.All 13 regions as well as the Northern and Southern Stream First Divisions held preliminary knockout competitions in January, after which 16 teams progressed through to the first round.The total sponsorship of the Hansa Cup amounts to N$500 000, with the winners due to receive N$90 000, the runners-up N$40 000 and the losing semifinalists N$20 000 each.Tough Guys from the Omaheke Region won the inaugural Hansa Cup in 2006, while Onambula United from the Ohangwena region won the trophy in 2007.But both teams were knocked out in their preliminary round matches of this year’s competition, with the result that a new champion will be crowned this year.The semi-finals are scheduled to take place on April 19 and the final on May 10 at venues that must still be determined.The NFA has advised spectators that no bottles or weapons will be allowed into the stadium and that all individuals and cars entering the stadium will be searched.The entrance fee is N$20 for adults, N$10 for children under 12 and N$10 for vehicles.www.namibiasport.com.na