Premiership hits top gear

THREE domestic football premiership sides are tied on points as they all accelerated their surge to the top of the log at the weekend in their bids to become champions as the league approaches the halfway mark.

The most comprehensive win was archived by Eleven Arrows who effectively routed Ramblers 4-1 in their own backyard in Windhoek and in the process pushing them into second spot on the log, while Orlando Pirates and African Stars also picked up valuable points in their away matches.
The race for the top spot has intensified considerably and it is only a matter of time that current leaders Sport Klub Windhoek (SKW) will be tested, despite enjoying a two-point lead followed by Arrows, Pirates and Stars on 16 points.
Stars beat Mighty Gunners with a solitary goal in Otjiwarongo, while Pirates had to settle for a 3-all draw against the rigid Oshakati City.
The top four sides are all championship material, but the character of their players and the technical abilities of the respective coaches will be stretched as most teams reach the halfway mark after the coming weekend’s matches.
Pirates are the defending champions and their draw away to Oshakati makes them a bit vulnerable when they are expected to meet African Stars this Friday.
Arrows have been in commanding form and have the best scoring record in the league as their strikers have hammered 19 goals past their opponents.

NO LOSS FOR STARS
Stars have the best defensive record in the league as they have conceded only five goals from their six matches, but most importantly, have not lost a match, while they have two games in hand.
In fact, Stars can easily reach the top of table if they win their two matches in hand against Tigers and Eleven Arrows.
But first, they have difficult assignment against Pirates this Friday and by the look of things, they can still go past Pirates, who have not shown a consistent form of late.
Stars have beefed up their line-up with credible customers such as the tricky Rudi Louw and workhorse Jamu Ngatjizeko in midfield, while Edison Muheua has been a revelation on the right wing as his crosses are a nightmare to any goalkeeper in the league.
The five wins from their six matches are by far the best for the side in many seasons, who have been struggling to survive without sponsors, while they were also on the downside in terms of quality players.
This season, Stars have the chance to pull it off, but that might be scuppered by Arrows, who also have prominent players who are currently in awesome form. At this stage, pre-season favourites Civics are out of the hunt as they are now in sixth position on the log with four wins from their eight matches.
The triple league champions have surprisingly lost four matches with the latest being a 2-0 thumping by Tigers. Their chances will be slim as they are thin on quality personnel at this stage.
Ramblers, Hotspurs, Chief Santos and Mighty Gunners are all below the 10-point mark from their eight matches and the battle in the lower zone will continue to avoid being relegated.
Ramblers have the players to do the job, but their poor dominance in midfield and the defence which appears uncoordinated at times leave them vulnerable.
Their strikers are a bit soft and compromising, compared to the hungry and ruthless front men at Arrows and Stars.