SA’s Amajita win

The Namibian Challenge South Africa’s Amajita beat Namibia 2-1 to win the The Namibian Challenge at the Sam Nujoma Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

About 6 000 people turned up for the match and they were not disappointed as both teams produced some excellent football. In an exciting match of skill, flair and passion, South Africa were just too slick as they wore down Namibia with some brilliant passing and spectacular goals.The match started at a high tempo as Namibian striker Eusebio Fredericks and right winger David Buys combined well early on, while South African midfielder Mandla Masango had a cracking shot tipped for a corner by Max Mbaeva.Namibian midfielders Akio van Wyk and Emberth Isaack brought the crowd to its feet with some slick passing moves, but it was the Amajita who took the lead when Thulane Ngcepe opened the scoring in the 18th minute with a great back heel from Daylon Classen’s centre.Some slick passing moves between Morton, Thulane Serero and Thulane Ngcepe brought appreciative cheers from the crowd, while Mbaeva saved well after a fine run by Ngcepe.With South Africa continuing to attack, Michael Morton hit the back of the net with a great volley, but it was disallowed for offside, while Ngcepe had another shot cleared off the line.For Namibia, Fredericks, Buys and Isaacks combined well in attack, while an Isaacks free kick went narrowly wide of the mark just before halftime.HECTIC PACE The hectic pace of the match subsided in the second half as the match was regularly interrupted by injuries.Especially the Namibians suffered as Akio van Wyk, Imperth Isaack and David Buys all had to leave the field due to injuries.Isaack and Buys however came back and especially Isaack made a big impact towards the end of the match.The Amajita pressed home their advantage in the 58th minute through a spectacular goal by Thulane Serero, who jumped high to volley Mandla Masango’s centre into the net.Namibian striker Eusebio Fredericks had a great game putting in some strong runs which had the crowd up on its feet and cheering for more.Namibian substitute striker Tateati Pengeyo also put in some strong runs in the final quarter, but couldn’t break through South Africa’s defence.With three minutes remaining Fredericks and Isaack combined brilliantly before Isaacks was brought down in the box by Majita captain Ramahlwe Mphahlele.The referee immediately pointed to the spot and Isaacks stepped up to send Amajita’s keeper Vumile Nxako the wrong way with a great shot.In the final minute Fredericks broke through with another great run but Nxako saved at his feet.After the match, Fredericks was awarded the Player of the Tournament trophy, while the Deputy Minister of Sport, Pohamba Shifeta, handed The Namibian Challenge trophy to South African captain, Ramahlwe Mphahlele.Namibian coach Bobby Samaria said the match had served a good purpose.”In the first half we gave them too much space on the ball and as a result they exploited that.In the second half it went much better, when we started to put in more pressure.””I think the only way we can learn is by playing friendly games.If you lose, then you learn, but if you win you cannot learn, so I think this friendly game has taught us a lot.It has taught us where our strong points as well as our weak points are.This time around it was their day, but next time it might be our day,” he said.In an exciting match of skill, flair and passion, South Africa were just too slick as they wore down Namibia with some brilliant passing and spectacular goals.The match started at a high tempo as Namibian striker Eusebio Fredericks and right winger David Buys combined well early on, while South African midfielder Mandla Masango had a cracking shot tipped for a corner by Max Mbaeva.Namibian midfielders Akio van Wyk and Emberth Isaack brought the crowd to its feet with some slick passing moves, but it was the Amajita who took the lead when Thulane Ngcepe opened the scoring in the 18th minute with a great back heel from Daylon Classen’s centre.Some slick passing moves between Morton, Thulane Serero and Thulane Ngcepe brought appreciative cheers from the crowd, while Mbaeva saved well after a fine run by Ngcepe.With South Africa continuing to attack, Michael Morton hit the back of the net with a great volley, but it was disallowed for offside, while Ngcepe had another shot cleared off the line.For Namibia, Fredericks, Buys and Isaacks combined well in attack, while an Isaacks free kick went narrowly wide of the mark just before halftime.HECTIC PACE The hectic pace of the match subsided in the second half as the match was regularly interrupted by injuries.Especially the Namibians suffered as Akio van Wyk, Imperth Isaack and David Buys all had to leave the field due to injuries.Isaack and Buys however came back and especially Isaack made a big impact towards the end of the match.The Amajita pressed home their advantage in the 58th minute through a spectacular goal by Thulane Serero, who jumped high to volley Mandla Masango’s centre into the net.Namibian striker Eusebio Fredericks had a great game putting in some strong runs which had the crowd up on its feet and cheering for more.Namibian substitute striker Tateati Pengeyo also put in some strong runs in the final quarter, but couldn’t break through South Africa’s defence.With three minutes remaining Fredericks and Isaack combined brilliantly before Isaacks was brought down in the box by Majita captain Ramahlwe Mphahlele.The referee immediately pointed to the spot and Isaacks stepped up to send Amajita’s keeper Vumile Nxako the wrong way with a great shot.In the final minute Fredericks broke through with another great run but Nxako saved at his feet.After the match, Fredericks was awarded the Player of the Tournament trophy, while the Deputy Minister of Sport, Pohamba Shifeta, handed The Namibian Challenge trophy to South African captain, Ramahlwe Mphahlele.Namibian coach Bobby Samaria said the match had served a good purpose.”In the first half we gave them too much space on the ball and as a result they exploited that.In the second half it went much better, when we started to put in more pressure.””I think the only way we can learn is by playing friendly games.If you lose, then you learn, but if you win you cannot learn, so I think this friendly game has taught us a lot.It has taught us where our strong points as well as our weak points are.This time around it was their day, but next time it might be our day,” he said.