Stars in for surprise at Otavi

TOUCH & Go promise to surprise African Stars when they meet at the Otavi Stadium tomorrow in their first MTC Namibia Premier League tie this season.Touch & Go will play their first home match at the Otavi Stadium, dubbed the ‘House of Pain’.

Kick-off is at 15h00. Touch & Go, new entrants into the premier league, have vowed to collect maximum points in a fixture they consider will sway in their favour due to the home-ground advantage.Spokesperson Jefta Gaoab told The Namibian Sport yesterday that the team has prepared well to pull off a win in their first home match, and consider African Stars as the first casualties.”It is difficult for teams outside Otavi to beat us at that venue.We have established a good home record when we played in the first division and I don’t think it will be any different when we play against teams from the premier league,” he said.Touch & Go are third from the bottom in the 16-team league table and have so far only beat fellow newcomers Cymot Sport Klub Windhoek (SKW).They lost four of their five matches and have only three points to their credit.Stars are in fifth spot and pulled three consecutive draws before they eventually achieved victory against Windhoek Optics Ramblers last weekend.Gaoab said his players would be encouraged to do better because the home crowd will be rallying behind the team.”We have fans who really support us, especially at home, and we want them to come in numbers and witness what Touch & Go has in store for Stars.A big surprise,” he said.Stars, who have a typical and rather constant defensive style of play, will be wary of the lowly rated side’s front men, who will be led by their captain, Gerson Kapukare, who is famous for his deadly crosses from the wings.Stars have been struggling with their striking force since the start of the league, with favoured Nico Andima slowly losing his spark in being a threat to defenders.But the presence of Patrick Uanivi in attack often gives them hope, as he appears to be the only one looking for goals.At the back, Mali Ngarizemo still stands solid as a rock, but Charles Hindjou and Johannes Malgas in midfield have been disappointing, largely due to their lack of innovation.Touch & Go can also rely on the services of both Percy Khairabeb and Telvin Hoaeb in midfield, as they have proven to be reliable in difficult times.In goal, the 21-year-old Ronnie Smith has rescued Touch & Go on several occasions, and by putting on his safest gloves this weekend, and his strikers their scoring boots, matters might turn in their favour.Touch & Go currently have former player Ruben Ruiter as their coach, but Gaoab says an assistant is needed at the club, which is also struggling to get a sponsorship deal.CITY RIVALS In another crucial encounter, SKW stand a chance of picking up three points when they engage Ramblers at the Sam Nujoma Stadium in Katutura on Sunday.Since the departure of hitman Henrico Botes and dynamic midfielder Quinton Jacobs for professional football in South Africa, Ramblers have made little impact this season, with only one win from their four matches.SKW have not been too impressive either, as they are currently lying at the bottom of the log with no points, after suffering three consecutive defeats.Samson John has not been as lethal for Ramblers as he was at Black Africa last season, while under-20 striker Lazarus Kaimbi has also not produced the goods as required.Tonight, however, SKW take on United Africa Tigers in what could be a further three points for the Donkerhoek side, judging from their steady performance so far.Tigers are second on the log with 10 points and a game in hand behind Civics, who have 13 points after five matches.Next week, SKW will face African Stars in one of the semi-final matches of the FNB Cup, and the two matches at the weekend should prepare them well for the December 16 encounter.Elsewhere, Marathon Sugar Chief Santos and Fysal Oshakati City will travel to Walvis Bay to meet Konica Minolta Eleven Arrows and Blue Waters at the Kuisebmond Stadium on Saturday and Sunday respectively.City are lying fourth after they won two of their five matches and a win on either day can push them into third spot ahead of Orlando Pirates, who are off this weekend.Arrows are second from the bottom and will be required to up their game if they wish to stay in top-flight football.Despite a sizeable sponsorship from Konica Minolta this season, the team has so far lost all three matches played.After this weekend’s matches, the domestic season will go into recess until January 20 next year.Touch & Go, new entrants into the premier league, have vowed to collect maximum points in a fixture they consider will sway in their favour due to the home-ground advantage.Spokesperson Jefta Gaoab told The Namibian Sport yesterday that the team has prepared well to pull off a win in their first home match, and consider African Stars as the first casualties.”It is difficult for teams outside Otavi to beat us at that venue.We have established a good home record when we played in the first division and I don’t think it will be any different when we play against teams from the premier league,” he said.Touch & Go are third from the bottom in the 16-team league table and have so far only beat fellow newcomers Cymot Sport Klub Windhoek (SKW).They lost four of their five matches and have only three points to their credit.Stars are in fifth spot and pulled three consecutive draws before they eventually achieved victory against Windhoek Optics Ramblers last weekend.Gaoab said his players would be encouraged to do better because the home crowd will be rallying behind the team.”We have fans who really support us, especially at home, and we want them to come in numbers and witness what Touch & Go has in store for Stars.A big surprise,” he said.Stars, who have a typical and rather constant defensive style of play, will be wary of the lowly rated side’s front men, who will be led by their captain, Gerson Kapukare, who is famous for his deadly crosses from the wings.Stars have been struggling with their striking force since the start of the league, with favoured Nico Andima slowly losing his spark in being a threat to defenders.But the presence of Patrick Uanivi in attack often gives them hope, as he appears to be the only one looking for goals.At the back, Mali Ngarizemo still stands solid as a rock, but Charles Hindjou and Johannes Malgas in midfield have been disappointing, largely due to their lack of innovation.Touch & Go can also rely on the services of both Percy Khairabeb and Telvin Hoaeb in midfield, as they have proven to be reliable in difficult times.In goal, the 21-year-old Ronnie Smith has rescued Touch & Go on several occasions, and by putting on his safest gloves this weekend, and his strikers their scoring boots, matters might turn in their favour.Touch & Go currently have former player Ruben Ruiter as their coach, but Gaoab says an assistant is needed at the club, which is also struggling to get a sponsorship deal.CITY RIVALS In another crucial encounter, SKW stand a chance of picking up three points when they engage Ramblers at the Sam Nujoma Stadium in Katutura on Sunday.Since the departure of hitman Henrico Botes and dynamic midfielder Quinton Jacobs for professional football in South Africa, Ramblers have made little impact this season, with only one win from their four matches.SKW have not been too impressive either, as they are currently lying at the bottom of the log with no points, after suffering three consecutive defeats.Samson John has not been as lethal for Ramblers as he was at Black Africa last season, while under-20 striker Lazarus Kaimbi has also not produced the goods as required.Tonight, however, SKW take on United Africa Tigers in what could be a further three points for the Donkerhoek side, judging from their steady performance so far.Tigers are second on the log with 10 points and a game in hand behind Civics, who have 13 points after five matches.Next week, SKW will face African Stars in one of the semi-final matches of the FNB Cup, and the two matches at the weekend should prepare them well for the December 16 encounter.Elsewhere, Marathon Sugar Chief Santos and Fysal Oshakati City will travel to Walvis Bay to meet Konica Minolta Eleven Arrows and Blue Waters at the Kuisebmond Stadium on Saturday and Sunday respectively.City are lying fourth after they won two of their five matches and a win on either day can push them into third spot ahead of Orlando Pirates, who are off this weekend.Arrows are second from the bottom and will be required to up their game if they wish to stay in top-flight football.Despite a sizeable sponsorship from Konica Minolta this season, the team has so far lost all three matches played.After this weekend’s matches, the domestic season will go into recess until January 20 next year.