MTC NFA Cup set to start

The first round of Namibia’s richest soccer cup competiton, the MTC NFA Cup gets underway this weekend, and as usual some big upsets can be expected.

Matches will take place at Keetmanshoop’s J Stephanus Stadium on Saturday and at Otjiwarongo’s Mokati Stadium on Saturday and Sunday. The MTC NFA Cup has produced numerous upsets over the years and just last season, Mighty Gunners of Otjiwarongo rewrote the record books when they became the first non-Premier League team to progress to the semifinals.There they lost to eventual champions African Stars, but they demonstrated that with the necessary preparation and determination, the smaller teams can go far in the tournament.Since then Mighty Gunners have been promoted to the Premier League and with home ground advantage, they should start as favourites when they face Kwico Rundu Chiefs on Sunday.But they will be advised not to underestimate Rundu Chiefs, who are currently joint leaders of the Northern Stream first division and who will have some giant-killing aspirations of their own.TRICKY ENCOUNTER Defending champions African Stars face a tricky encounter against Golden Bees of Outjo who were relegated from the Premier League last season.Stars’ manager Lesley Kozoguizi said they expected a tough match but were determined to retain their trophy.”We are the defending champions and we will go full out to retain our title.We are expecting a tough battle against Golden Bees because the smaller teams in this competition can deliver some big surprises.They will go full out to showcase their talent against us and one just has to look at the recent upsets in the English FA Cup competition to see that these upsets can happen,” he said.Kozonguizi said Stars will be at full strength and that star midfielder Congo Hindjou will also be available after recovering from an ankle injury.TOUGH MATCH Last season’s runners-up Orlando Pirates can also expect a tough match against Onambula United from the Far North on Sunday.Onambula United are the defending Hansa Cup champions and Pirates’ coach Woody Jacobs is wary of them.”We played them once before a few years ago when I was still with Robber Chanties, and they are a very physical team, so we are expecting a tough battle.But we will treat them like any other team and will go full out to win by a big margin,” he said.Pirates last week recorded a morale-boosting 1-0 away victory against Eleven Arrows and Jacobs said he was happy with his squad’s form.”Ivan Makina and Eric Aoseb were great in defence, while Riaan Cloete changed the complexion of the game when he came on as a substitute.Up front Saul Coetzee worked his socks off and was rewarded with a fine goal,” he said.With other star players like Athiel Mbaha, Enrico Afrikaner, Chepela Chepela, Klaas Blom and Celestine Wasserfall all in fine form, Pirates will be quietly confident of a victory.Other interesting match ups this weekend include the current Northern Stream log leaders, Chief Santos’ match against Premier League log leaders Cymot SKW and the Southern Stream First Division log leaders Friends against Premier League wooden-spoonists, Fedics United.- www.namibiasport.com.naThe MTC NFA Cup has produced numerous upsets over the years and just last season, Mighty Gunners of Otjiwarongo rewrote the record books when they became the first non-Premier League team to progress to the semifinals.There they lost to eventual champions African Stars, but they demonstrated that with the necessary preparation and determination, the smaller teams can go far in the tournament.Since then Mighty Gunners have been promoted to the Premier League and with home ground advantage, they should start as favourites when they face Kwico Rundu Chiefs on Sunday.But they will be advised not to underestimate Rundu Chiefs, who are currently joint leaders of the Northern Stream first division and who will have some giant-killing aspirations of their own.TRICKY ENCOUNTER Defending champions African Stars face a tricky encounter against Golden Bees of Outjo who were relegated from the Premier League last season.Stars’ manager Lesley Kozoguizi said they expected a tough match but were determined to retain their trophy.”We are the defending champions and we will go full out to retain our title.We are expecting a tough battle against Golden Bees because the smaller teams in this competition can deliver some big surprises.They will go full out to showcase their talent against us and one just has to look at the recent upsets in the English FA Cup competition to see that these upsets can happen,” he said.Kozonguizi said Stars will be at full strength and that star midfielder Congo Hindjou will also be available after recovering from an ankle injury. TOUGH MATCH Last season’s runners-up Orlando Pirates can also expect a tough match against Onambula United from the Far North on Sunday.Onambula United are the defending Hansa Cup champions and Pirates’ coach Woody Jacobs is wary of them.”We played them once before a few years ago when I was still with Robber Chanties, and they are a very physical team, so we are expecting a tough battle.But we will treat them like any other team and will go full out to win by a big margin,” he said.Pirates last week recorded a morale-boosting 1-0 away victory against Eleven Arrows and Jacobs said he was happy with his squad’s form.”Ivan Makina and Eric Aoseb were great in defence, while Riaan Cloete changed the complexion of the game when he came on as a substitute.Up front Saul Coetzee worked his socks off and was rewarded with a fine goal,” he said.With other star players like Athiel Mbaha, Enrico Afrikaner, Chepela Chepela, Klaas Blom and Celestine Wasserfall all in fine form, Pirates will be quietly confident of a victory.Other interesting match ups this weekend include the current Northern Stream log leaders, Chief Santos’ match against Premier League log leaders Cymot SKW and the Southern Stream First Division log leaders Friends against Premier League wooden-spoonists, Fedics United.- www.namibiasport.com.na