Title race wide open at halfway stage

With the halfway mark of the Debmarine Namibia Premiership season having been reached, the title race is still wide open as the league heads into the festive season break.

The defending champions African Stars dropped points in a 2-2 draw against Tigers on Sunday, and now top the log on 36 points, while Khomas Nampol gained maximum points to replace Ongos in second position on the log on 34 points, with Ongos moving down to third on 32.

Eeshoke Chula Chula replaced Blue Waters in fourth place on the log, while there was also a welcome win for Orlando Pirates – only their second of the season. 

On Friday evening, African Stars were made to work hard by Civics before a second half goal by Ngunzu Salazar gave them a 1-0 win.

Civics gave a fine performance and had some clearcut chances, especially in the first half when Rasantino Xoagub and John Gassonu came close to scoring, but Stars managed to keep them at bay and finally broke the deadlock midway through the second half when Salazar scored from a cutback by Willy Stephanus.

Stars held on for the win, but it was not a great performance and two days later they were held to a 2-2 draw by Tigers at Okahandja’s Nau-Aib Stadium.

Tigers won two penalties for fouls, with midfielder Quinton Kuruseb putting both away, but Uetuuru Kambato opened Stars’ account, before Abram Tjahikika grabbed a share of the spoils for Stars with a second half goal.

Khomas Nampol, meanwhile, replaced FC Ongos in second position on the log after a clearcut 3-0 victory against them on Saturday. 

Striker George Frans gave Nampol the lead early in the second half when he nipped in to put a loose ball into the net, and they went 2-0 ahead when Absalom Iimbondi caught Ongos’ defence napping after a quick restart from a foul. 

Frans sealed Nampol’s victory when he once again pounced to put a loose ball away midway through the second half. That win saw Nampol replacing Ongos in second position on the log and they entrenched that position further with a 1-0 victory against Young African on Sunday. Their young winger Rewaldo Prins scored the only goal of the match towards the end of the first half when he was brought down in the box and got up to put the spot kick away. 

Ongos, meanwhile struck back with a 2-1 win against Young Brazilians in Keetmanshoop on Sunday, to remain in the title race, now in third position on 32 points.

The top three teams have now built up quite a substantial lead over the rest of the pack, with Eeshoke Chula Chula trailing in fourth position on 25 points, 11 points behind Stars. 

Chula Chula were held to a goalless draw by Blue Waters at Oshakati on Saturday, but then beat Okahandja United 1-0 on Sunday, to move into fourth position on the log. 

Blue Waters dropped down to fifth position on 24 points, after also losing 2-1 to Mighty Gunners at Otjiwarongo on Sunday, while Tigers, who also beat Orlando Pirates 1-0 on Thursday after an early goal by Gustav Isaak, are now sixth on 21 points. 

Mighty Gunners moved up to eighth position on 19 points, after also drawing 1-1 against Okahandha United on Saturday, while Unam had a successful weekend on the road, after they drew 0-0 against Julinho in Rundu on Saturday, and beat Life Fighters 1-0 in Otjiwarongo on Sunday. 

In other results, Okakarara Young Warriors beat Julinho Sporting 2-1, Life Fighters beat Okakarara Young Warriors 1-0, and Young Brazilians and Young African drew 0-0, while Orlando Pirates got only their second victory of the season when they beat Civics 1-0 on Sunday. 

Pirates, however, remain at the bottom of the log on eight points, with Life Fighters (11 points) and Civics (12 points) also in the relegation zone.

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