AFRICAN Stars won the MTC Namibia Premier League title after a come-from-behind 2-1 victory against Tigers on Sunday, while Black Africa’s challenge faded with a 1-1 draw against Eleven Arrows.
It was the second time in four years that Stars had won the title, and the fourth time over the past decade, and like their English champion counterparts, Manchester City, they already clinched the title before completion of the league.
With two matches remaining, Stars, on 61 points, have an insurmountable nine-point lead over BA on 52 points, while Mighty Gunners moved up to third place on 48 points.
It was also a personal triumph for coach Bobby Samaria who has now won the league title three times with Stars, and he was elated with his latest success.
“There are no words to describe the feeling. I think we made our intentions clear from the word go and I’m also glad that we could get the title against Tigers. Last time we were the defending champions, but then they took the title from us, so we just took back what rightfully belongs to us,” he said.
“Overall the season went well, but we didn’t start the second round very well, partly because we lost our number one goalkeeper (Loydt Kazapua) and replacing your goalkeeper is always difficult. But I’m glad ‘Emile’ (Ratanda Mbazuvara) came through strong and at the end of the day we managed to satisfy our hordes of fans,” he added.
Stars were deserved winners of the league as they got off to a great start to establish their dominance early on.
They won their first eight matches in a row to build up a commanding lead, before dropping their first points in draws against Young African, Black Africa and Civics.
At the end of the first round in December 2017, Stars suffered their first defeat of the season, away to Eleven Arrows, and their lead was further reduced when they dropped points at the start of the second round in February.
They were held to two goalless draws by Pirates and Life Fighters, and when they lost 1-0 to Citizens on 24 February, BA were only four points behind on the log.
Stars regained their composure with a six-match unbeaten run and although they lost 2-1 to BA on 25 March, they bounced back with successive victories against Tura Magic and Tigers to clinch the league title.
Sunday’s victory against Tigers saw them overcoming a 1-0 deficit after Gustav Isaak gave Tigers the lead shortly before halftime.
Stars, however, immediately struck back and equalised two minutes into the second half through a great free kick by Aubrey Amseb, who slammed the ball through the narrowest of margins past the wall and into the net.
Tigers suffered a major setback on 58 minutes when midfielder Esko Kavela was sent off after picking up a second yellow card and they had to play the last half hour with just 10 men.
Gaps started opening up as both sides started attacking and with five minutes to go, Amseb finally got the winner when he scored from a Nekundi cross.
The final whistle went shortly after to send Stars’ players, management and fans wild with delight, while NPL chairman Patrick Kauta and Tim Ekandjo of MTC handed the trophy to Stars’ captain Pat Nevin Uanivi.
Stars still have a chance of winning the double after they progressed to the quarterfinals of the Debmarine Namibia Cup, where they will play Dynamos this coming Saturday.
Samaria, meanwhile, wouldn’t be drawn into his future at African Stars.
“My contract is ending at the end of May, but we’ll see – let’s first focus on the Debmarine Cup.”
