BRAVE Warriors striker Benson Shilongo starred for Platinum Stars in the South African Premier Soccer League, as he scored the winning goal in their 2-1 victory against Chippa United on Friday.
Lerato Manzini had given Chippa the lead on 20 minutes, but Robert Ng’ambi equalized for Stars 13 minutes into the second half.
Stars’ coach Gavin Johnson brought on Shilongo for Bongi Ntuli in the 72nd minute, and his faith was rewarded when Shilongo scored the winning goal two minutes from full time.
Fellow Namibians Willem Mwedihanga and Henrico Botes both started the match for Stars, although Botes was substituted by Ndumiso Mabena on 62 minutes.
The result saw Stars moving up to ninth position on the log on 22 points, while Chippa are 11th on 21 points.
Namibia’s Peter Shalulile and Chris Katjiukua both started for relegation-threatened Highlands Park, who recorded a much-needed victory with a 1-0 away win against Free State Stars.
Mothobi Mvala scored the winning goal three minutes from time, but Highlands are still in the relegation zone, in second last position on 17 points.
Namibia’s two goal keepers in the PSL, Virgil Vries and Max Mbaeva had contrasting fortunes when their sides, Maritzburg United and Golden Arrows came up against each other in the KwaZulu-Natal derby in KwaMashu.
Virgil Vries started in goals for Maritzburg United, but they ended up losing the match 1-0 after Knox Mutizwa headed in Arrows’ winner just before halftime.
Mbaeva, however, once again started on the bench with Nkosi Gumede once again being preferred by Arrows coach Clinton Larson.
Arrows are sixth on the log on 27 points, while Maritzburg are eighth on 23 points.
Namibian winger, Deon Hotto, started the match for Bloemfontein Celtic against Bidvest Wits, but he was substituted by Lyle Lakay in the 70th minute. Celtic ended up losing the match 3-1, and are now just above the relegation zone in 13th position on 18 points.
Wits moved up to second position on 37 points – just a point behind log leaders Cape Town City, who beat Mamelodi Sundowns 1-0.
The stand-out match of the weekend, the Soweto derby between Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates ended in a one-all draw, which sees Chiefs moving up to fourth position on 35 points, while Pirates remain tenth on 22 points.
Meanwhile, Denzil Haoseb and Ananias Gebhardt both started for Jomo Cosmos as they drew 2-all away to Witbank Spurs in the Nationwide First Division.
One of Spurs’ goals came from a penalty that Gebhardt conceded after a foul, but besides that, the two Namibians gave a good account of themselves.
Cosmos are now fifth on the log on 30 points, well behind log leaders Thanda Royal Zulu on 41 points.
Cosmos, however, could still overtake Black Leopards (33), Royal Eagles (32) and Stellenbosch FC (31) who are just above them on the log.
