Showdown in Cup

NAMIBIA’S premier Cup competition, the Cell One NFA Cup, takes centre stage this weekend with second-round matches at three venues throughout Namibia.

In one of the most highly anticipated matches, Orlando Pirates will face Civics at Windhoek’s Independence Stadium tomorrow night.
Civics have been in hot form recently and have not lost a match since January 23, when they lost to Tigers.
Since then, they have remained unbeaten, winning seven matches and drawing one, to move up to third position on the Premier League log, just five points behind leaders SKW.
Their winger Eslin Kamuhanga has been in great form and took his goal tally up to 11 for the season when he scored in last weekend’s 2-0 victory against Chief Santos.
Heini Isaacks is also fast regaining his old form and was recently selected for the Brave Warriors that played against the Namibian Shadow team, while Pirates will have to keep an eye on other youngsters like Pineas Jacob, Victor Helu and Nelson Angula.
Pirates have been going through a tough time lately, dropping down to sixth on the log after losing 1-0 to SKW last Saturday.
But despite their league problems, Pirates have a fine cup record, having won the NFA Cup in 2006, and finishing as runners up the following year. Civics, however are the defending champions, after beating Stars 1-0 in last year’s final, and on current form should start as favourites for the match.
In the other matches scheduled for Windhoek’s Independence Stadium, Premier League log leaders SKW take on first division side Fedics United, while Tigers take on Ramblers.
At Walvis Bay’s Kuisebmond Stadium, Eleven Arrows will be out to take revenge against Black Africa, after they lost 3-1 in the league in Windhoek last weekend.
Arrows have won of the strongest squads on paper with players like Rudolph Bester, Muna and Tara Katupose, Donovan Swartz and Freedom Puriza, but they will need to raise their performance a few notches against a rampant Black Africa side, who have not lost since Ali Akan took over as coach at the end of February.
In other matches at Walvis Bay, Robber Chanties meet Blue Waters in an all-First Division affair, while African Stars take on another first division side, Blue Boys.
At the Oscar Norich Stadium in Tsumeb, Chief Santos meet first-division side New Castle United, while Bingo take on Golden Bees in an all-First Division showdown.
– www.namibiasport.com.na