MTC Cup into second round

MOST premiership big guns will have relatively easy paths to the quarter-finals of the MTC Cup when the second-round matches take centre stage at Keetmanshoop and Otjiwarongo this weekend.

However, either Black Africa or Blue Waters will face elimination when they clash in a match that will undoubtedly be the highlight of the weekend at Keetmanshoop. The two sides, which have formidable line-ups, will square up at the St Joseph Stadium at 17h00 in a match that could go either way.In other matches, Oshakati City are likely to trounce Touch & Go in an earlier match at the same venue, while the following day, Orlando Pirates and Eleven Arrows are the favourites to go through, as they are playing lower-division sides Arsenal and Deportivo Alaves respectively.At Otjiwarongo’s Mokati Stadium, Tigers are likely to have the upper hand over SKW despite the resignation of their outspoken coach Ali Akan a week ago.Defending champions Ramblers will go in as favourites in their encounter against fellow premier league contenders African Stars, judging from their recent excellent league run, which has now placed them in second spot on the log after Civics.Civics are almost sure of a quarter-final entry as they take on former premier league outfit Golden Bees, also at Otjiwarongo, provided that striker William Chilufya puts on the same boots he used when he blasted a hat-trick against Angola’s Sagrada Esperanca in their CAF Championships League match in Windhoek last weekend.Chief Santos have been give a chance to redeem themselves from a poor spell in the premiership when they take on United Stars from Rundu in the last match on Sunday at Otjiwarongo.The Tsumeb side has found it tough in the league this season and is currently sitting at the bottom of the log with only one win from its 11 matches.Blue Waters will go out to take revenge against Black Africa after losing 2-1 in the first round of the domestic league in Windhoek, but their strikers will need to up their game against a robust BA defence.Black Africa will aim to go through to the quarter-finals and ultimately to the finals after they were dethroned from the title by Ramblers in a dramatic penalty shootout at the Independence Stadium last year.MTC has pumped close to N$1 million into the tournament, which will see the winner walk home with over N$300 000.MTC has also committed itself to allocating N$2 000 to each of the teams to cover their travel expenses this weekend.The two sides, which have formidable line-ups, will square up at the St Joseph Stadium at 17h00 in a match that could go either way.In other matches, Oshakati City are likely to trounce Touch & Go in an earlier match at the same venue, while the following day, Orlando Pirates and Eleven Arrows are the favourites to go through, as they are playing lower-division sides Arsenal and Deportivo Alaves respectively.At Otjiwarongo’s Mokati Stadium, Tigers are likely to have the upper hand over SKW despite the resignation of their outspoken coach Ali Akan a week ago.Defending champions Ramblers will go in as favourites in their encounter against fellow premier league contenders African Stars, judging from their recent excellent league run, which has now placed them in second spot on the log after Civics.Civics are almost sure of a quarter-final entry as they take on former premier league outfit Golden Bees, also at Otjiwarongo, provided that striker William Chilufya puts on the same boots he used when he blasted a hat-trick against Angola’s Sagrada Esperanca in their CAF Championships League match in Windhoek last weekend.Chief Santos have been give a chance to redeem themselves from a poor spell in the premiership when they take on United Stars from Rundu in the last match on Sunday at Otjiwarongo.The Tsumeb side has found it tough in the league this season and is currently sitting at the bottom of the log with only one win from its 11 matches.Blue Waters will go out to take revenge against Black Africa after losing 2-1 in the first round of the domestic league in Windhoek, but their strikers will need to up their game against a robust BA defence.Black Africa will aim to go through to the quarter-finals and ultimately to the finals after they were dethroned from the title by Ramblers in a dramatic penalty shootout at the Independence Stadium last year.MTC has pumped close to N$1 million into the tournament, which will see the winner walk home with over N$300 000.MTC has also committed itself to allocating N$2 000 to each of the teams to cover their travel expenses this weekend.