NPFL title race wide open 

The Namibia Premier Football League title race is wide open after the leading contenders all dropped points over the weekend. 

Defending champions African Stars were held to a 1-1 draw by Bucks Buccaneers on Friday evening, while Eeshoke Chula Chula could only collect two points in Windhoek after a goalless draw against FC Ongos on Saturday and a 1-1 draw against Unam FC yesterday. 

Third-placed FC Ongos, meanwhile, dropped more points in a 2-0 defeat to KK Palace yesterday, but Stars returned to the top of the log after beating Okahandja United 3-1 yesterday.

On Saturday, Chula Chula temporarily replaced Stars at the top of the log after holding FC Ongos to a goalless draw at a packed Unam Stadium. 

There might not have been any goals, but there was lots of action as both teams attacked with pace and precision, while the opposing defences stood firm. 

Chula Chula were the first to threaten, with Eric Nkoy volleying over from close range, but Hamidu Yakubu came close for Ongos, with a long range shot skimming the crossbar. 

Nkoy once again threatened early in the second half, when he broke through the defence, but Ongos keeper Jonas Matheus pulled off a fine point blank save.

Ongos upped the tempo in the final quarter, with Nicodemus Haikali and Punaje Katjimune coming close, while Chula Chula keeper Sibeso Musipili pulled off a fine save from Yakubu with three minutes to go. 

Chula Chula coach John Sikerete said they will take the draw. 

“The result is not really what we wanted, but we are fine with the draw. There’s no second chance for us with them and it will be difficult for us to rely on someone else to stop them, but we managed to stop them and keep them four points away from us. We know the defending champions African Stars still have to visit us in Oshakati, and then let it be between the two of us. I really wanted to win today, but if you dont have enough experience that’s what you get,” he said. 

“From being a relegation candidate to going to the top of the log standing is something wonderful with an inexperienced team that I only assembled this season, we managed to become title challengers so I have to thank the boys for the commitment they have shown so far,” he added. 

On Friday, African Stars dropped more important points in the title race when they were held to a 1-1 draw by Bucks Buccaneers. 

In a pulsating match, Stars came close early on when Godwin Eiseb hit the post from a corner, while a Ronald Ketjijere shot was well saved by Viril Namaseb. 

The Buccaneers, however, took the lead midway through the first half when Owen Damaseb ran onto a defence splitting throughball to slot the ball into the left hand corner. 

It was the second time that Damaseb had scored against his former club after scoring for Bucks in their 1-0 first round victory on 28 November. 

Stars came back with a vengeance with Eiseb, Edmar Kamatuka and Awilo Stephanus all coming close to scoring, but the Buccaneers held on till halftime. 

Stars’ attacks however increased after the break but striker Turipamue Mbongora somehow missed the target with an open goal gaping, before he finally got the equaliser, bundling the ball over the line from a freekick. 

Stars laid siege to Buccaneers’ goals in the closing stages, but Mbongora once again missed a good chance after a pinpoint cross by Wendell Rudath, and they had to settle for a point. 

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