DEFENDING champions Tigers will finally open their account in the Namibia Premier League this weekend with two tough matches against Young African and Black Africa.
After threatening to take the Namibia Premier League to court and missing the first two rounds of matches, Tigers finally registered with the NPL on Wednesday, and will return to action this weekend.
“The club was formally registered with the NPL today (Wednesday), and subsequently registered its players as per the prescribed rules and regulations. This means the club will be eligible to play this weekend’s matches against Young African and Black Africa on Saturday and Sunday, respectively,” Tigers’ chairman Lukas Nanyemba confirmed on the Tigers supporters’ club WhatsApp group.
Nanyemba also announced Tigers’ squad, which shows some interesting additions to the team which won the league title 18 months ago.
Star midfielder Absalom Iimbondi is back after a stint in Botswana, while former Black Africa and national striker Roger Katjiteo has also joined the Ingweinyama.
Other additions are goalkeeper Immanuel Immanuel from Citizens, former African Stars midfielder McBride Ndjavera, who played for Botswana Premier League side Sharp Shooting Stars last season, and former Unam midfielders Charles Wimmert and Dino da Silva.
Nanyemba added that another ‘marquee signing’ and six more players will be registered next week.
Tigers can expect a tough introduction in the league when they take on Young African at Gobabis on Saturday.
Young African have been the surprise team of the league so far, winning their opening two matches against Young Chiefs and Chief Santos, and are currently third on the log.
On Sunday, another tough match awaits Tigers when they take on Black Africa, who will be determined to bounce back after losing 1-3 to Tura Magic on Wednesday evening.
Theophilus Junias scored a brace and Itamunua Keimuine a penalty for Tura Magic, while Emilio Martin replied with a free-kick for BA in a fiercely-contested match where Immanuel Heita also missed a penalty for BA.
After an uneventful start, the match burst into life when BA defender DaCosta Angula inadvertently handled a shot in the box, and Keimuine converted the spot kick to put Tura Magic 1-0 ahead.
It was a rather harsh call, but BA got a similar decision later in the match, which they fluffed.
Junias gave BA’s defence a torrid time with his constant pressure, and made it 2-0 when he ran onto a great through ball by Petrus Shitembi, and after BA keeper Virgil Namaseb parried his initial shot, he tapped the rebound into an open net.
BA opened their account early in the second half through a great free-kick from Martin, who curled the ball around the wall to score in the left-hand corner.
The tempo increased, and tackles flew in on both sides as tempers flared. The match thus had to be stopped several times for injuries.
The dangerous Shitembi nearly scored when his deflected shot hit the bar, but it was Junias who grabbed his second and Tura’s third goal with a great shot from the edge of the box.
With 15 minutes to go, BA had a great chance to reduce the deficit when they were awarded a penalty after a handball in the box, but Immanuel Heita’s shot hit the post.
Wendel Rudath tried hard for BA, creating several chances with his twisting runs, but otherwise BA did not trouble Tura Magic much. They held on for an important victory, which temporarily put them at the top of the log on seven points from three matches.
BA drop to fourth on six points, while African Stars, Young African and Blue Waters are also on six points with a game in hand.
African Stars, meanwhile, will start as favourites to extend their unbeaten run against Citizens on Friday night, while the only other team with maximum points so far, Blue Waters, face two tricky away matches against Chief Santos and Young Chiefs.
