AN epic encounter is in the offing when premiership defending champions Orlando Pirates take on African Stars in a Cell One NFA Cup quarter-final match in Windhoek on May 16.
Eleven Arrows, Ramblers and SKW, the other four remaining premiership sides in the competition, will clash against lower-division sides in matches slated for Windhoek and Walvis Bay.
Ramblers are pitted against Southern Stream First Division outfit Blue Waters in Walvis Bay, while Eleven Arrows will host Tsumeb-based Newcastle United, also at the coastal town’s Kuisebmond Stadium.
SKW will meet Bingo FC from Rundu in the other quarter-final match at Windhoek’s Independence Stadium.
The draw was done in Windhoek yesterday and it should be a relief for SKW, Ramblers and Arrows, who will all hope to find their way to the semi-finals.
Stars and Pirates will decide between themselves who will watch the next round from the sidelines.
The exit of the other three sides can however underline the strengths of the lower-division sides in the cup, as they have nothing to lose and everything to play for.
The winners will walk away with N$500 000, the biggest prize money ever in a domestic football competition, while the runners-up will take home N$200 000.
The two semi-final losers will each get N$100 000, also a huge amount considering the fact that there were no other cup competitions in the country this year.
It will be a bonus for the remaining premiership teams to win at all costs in the cup, in case they don’t land the league title.
The Namibia Premier League offers N$450 000 to win the championship, with the five top finishers also to benefit.
corry@namibian.com.na
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