Mighty Civics in FNB Cup title defence

CIVICS will start their MTC Cup title defence against Namibia Premier League rookies Mighty Gunners when the opening round of the lucrative competition kicks off at the Kuisebmond Stadium at Walvis Bay this weekend.

The tournament, which is sponsored by the First National Bank of Namibia to the tune of N$500 000, carries a very generous cash prize of N$170 000 for the winner, while the beaten finalists will carry home N$70 000. The two semi-final losers will each bank N$20 000 as consolation.The Bethlehem Boys, as Civics are popularly known, are likely to be deprived of some of their key players, who were on national duty with the Brave Warriors against Morocco on Wednesday night, but could still hold their own against the Gunners.It will, however, be suicidal of the three-time NPL champions if they dare to underestimate the Dawid ‘Phellah’ Snewe coached boys from Otjiwarongo, who proved to be very tricky customers in their most recent cup ties.The Gunners pulled the biggest shock of local cup competition history when they edged out Black Africa, who have the reputation of being the best cup competition team in the country, with a 2-1 win in last year’s MTC Cup.That score is clear indication that they cannot be underestimated, especially because they are coached by Snewe, who was ironically one of the biggest architects of the Lively Lions’ reign in cup competitions during his heyday.But Civics are expected to have sufficient reserve arsenal for the gold-and-black outfit who seem to be finding the going very tough at the moment since they joined the elite league after winning the Northern stream of the National First League.Black Africa will receive an opportunity to redeem themselves when they lock horns with the hard-running Golden Bees in the second match of the day tomorrow.Bees will however regret the fact that they face the Katutura giants at a time when they seem to have regained some of their best form.Black Africa will be highly motivated after they recorded two straight wins in their last two games of the league campaign and their counterparts from Outjo will only do their own chances good if they prepare intensively for this encounter.The third outing of the day pits ex-Premier League outfit Friends FC against Hotspurs from the Southern stream of the National First Division.Both teams are playing in the same league and should know each other well.Chief Santos, another cup specialist during their remarkable reign in the Premier League until they were relegated two seasons ago, face a mammoth task when they engage Elven Arrows in the last encounter of the day.Santos used to run riot in cup competition but whether they still have what it takes to surprise the likes of Arrows, who are tough nut to crack at home, remains to be seen when they face each other under floodlights at 20h00.The winners of the opening match will play the second-match winners while the third-match winners will face off with the fourth-match conquerors on Sunday.The two winners from Sunday’s matches will proceed to the quarter-final round.Entry fees are N$20 for adults and N$10 for children under 12 and cars.The NPL has promised strict security at all the matches.The two semi-final losers will each bank N$20 000 as consolation.The Bethlehem Boys, as Civics are popularly known, are likely to be deprived of some of their key players, who were on national duty with the Brave Warriors against Morocco on Wednesday night, but could still hold their own against the Gunners.It will, however, be suicidal of the three-time NPL champions if they dare to underestimate the Dawid ‘Phellah’ Snewe coached boys from Otjiwarongo, who proved to be very tricky customers in their most recent cup ties.The Gunners pulled the biggest shock of local cup competition history when they edged out Black Africa, who have the reputation of being the best cup competition team in the country, with a 2-1 win in last year’s MTC Cup.That score is clear indication that they cannot be underestimated, especially because they are coached by Snewe, who was ironically one of the biggest architects of the Lively Lions’ reign in cup competitions during his heyday.But Civics are expected to have sufficient reserve arsenal for the gold-and-black outfit who seem to be finding the going very tough at the moment since they joined the elite league after winning the Northern stream of the National First League.Black Africa will receive an opportunity to redeem themselves when they lock horns with the hard-running Golden Bees in the second match of the day tomorrow.Bees will however regret the fact that they face the Katutura giants at a time when they seem to have regained some of their best form.Black Africa will be highly motivated after they recorded two straight wins in their last two games of the league campaign and their counterparts from Outjo will only do their own chances good if they prepare intensively for this encounter.The third outing of the day pits ex-Premier League outfit Friends FC against Hotspurs from the Southern stream of the National First Division.Both teams are playing in the same league and should know each other well.Chief Santos, another cup specialist during their remarkable reign in the Premier League until they were relegated two seasons ago, face a mammoth task when they engage Elven Arrows in the last encounter of the day.Santos used to run riot in cup competition but whether they still have what it takes to surprise the likes of Arrows, who are tough nut to crack at home, remains to be seen when they face each other under floodlights at 20h00.The winners of the opening match will play the second-match winners while the third-match winners will face off with the fourth-match conquerors on Sunday.The two winners from Sunday’s matches will proceed to the quarter-final round.Entry fees are N$20 for adults and N$10 for children under 12 and cars.The NPL has promised strict security at all the matches.