Stars to show muscle

AFRICAN Stars will dig a bit deeper tonight to show their credentials as defending champions when they host a fired-up SKW side in an MTC Premiership match at the Sam Nujoma Stadium.

With Orlando Pirates already having shot up the standings with a five-point lead over second-placed Blue Waters, Stars will aim to come within reach with their encounter tonight.Pirates beat Civics 2-1 in their midweek match to lead the logs with 20 points, while Blue Waters and Stars sit on 15 each.Black Africa were due to play last night against Ramblers and a win could move them into second spot with 17 points.Sport Klub Windhoek, in fifth position, hope to give Stars a run for their money as they attempt to stay in the hunt for at least a top-six finish before the second round comes to an end within the next few weeks.Stars’ star players, Rudi Louw and Quinton Jacobs, watched how Pirates got lucky with a minute to go before the end on Wednesday to win the match as they were hoping for a loss or at least a draw against Civics.But tonight the two midfielders will take on a rigid SKW side which is plotting their downfall in the championship which is still wide open before the season comes to a close next May.Stars with their loyal supporters will go into the match as favourites, but Bobby Samaria’s men will be forced to make things happen upfront as they will face a stiff SKW defence.Early goals for Stars will give them the advantage, but a goalless first half can serve for a tougher second half as SKW has its strength in defence.Stars strikers fired blanks in their narrow 1-0 over Blue Waters last weekend and this time they have to work extra hard to put in better effort.On Saturday, Eleven Arrows will count on their home-ground advantage at the Atlantis Stadium in Walvis Bay when they host bottom of the table Hotspurs.Hotspurs coach Willem Kapukare said he is currently struggling with firepower upfront and hopes that the Arrows defence will be kind enough to them to at least settle for a draw.’A win away with the current squad will be a bonus for us because I am really struggling to get goals with the current strikers,’ said Kapukare.Hotspurs has only scored four goals from their seven matches, while they have conceded 10 and Kapukare aims to turn around that tide with a better performance against Arrows tomorrow.In other weekend matches, Blue Waters travel to Grootfontein to meet United Stars at the Omulunga Stadium at 16h00, while Tigers host Oshakati City at the Sam Nujoma Stadium at 19h00 tomorrow night.Both Tigers and Blue Waters lost their matches by one-goal margins last weekend and have the chance to improve their records. corry@namibian.com.na