YOUNG African are not content with Saturday’s historic Debmarine Namibia Cup success, and want to crown their debut top-flight campaign with the MTC Namibia Premiership title.
The Cattle Country rookies, who have surprised all and sundry by occupying third position on the current NPL log standings, edged Mighty Gunners 3-2 in extra time to clinch the first piece of domestic silverware in front of their jubilant home supporters at the Legare Stadium at Gobabis.
Substitute midfielder Salatuel Kaunatjike’s deflected shot 10 minutes from the end of the second half of extra time looped over a despairing Tomwell Damaseb in goal for Gunners to seal the dramatic come-from-behind victory.
“I am very happy for the boys. They played a very good game today. Mighty Gunners gave us a run for our money, especially with the football they played from the second half into extra time,” an ecstatic Marley Ngarizemo, hoarse from yelling throughout the compelling encounter, told reporters.
Victory by Young African looked unlikely when Gunners stormed out of the blocks as Vernon Klaazen put them ahead with a simple tap-in after Uaondjavure Nakambare’s header cannoned back off the post.
That sparked the nervous home side into life, and their incessant pressure resulted in the equaliser through an Albert Mujikijera header. They took the lead for the first time in the match after Semfried Maharero capitalised on a defensive mix-up between Damaseb and centre-back Robert Uirab to poke the ball into the net.
Wesley Katjiteo missed a sitter early in the second half, and soon afterwards Gunners made a raft of changes in attack, one of which paid off as substitute forward Gabriel David headed in the leveller with his first touch of the ball to send the match into extra time.
Both sides had chances to settle the tie before Kaunatjike’s long-range drive took a wicked deflection and wrong-footed Damaseb to nestle in the back of the net and spark pandemonium inside the stadium.
That hard-fought win makes Young African the only side from the Omaheke region, which enjoyed repeated success at youth level, to win a national title of that magnitude.
“This is big. I won it in 2007 with African Stars, and was chosen player of the tournament, and now I have won it as a coach. I could not ask for more,” Ngarizemo beamed.
There is no reason why their good run of form should not continue for the remainder of the season, he added.
“It is only Ballack [Wesley Katjiteo] who has played premier league football before, and none of the others have played at this level before. So far, they are delivering.
“We hope to continue to get at least nine points out of the 15 left for this year, and hopefully try and bring in more experienced players in January, and possibly even challenge for the league title.
“It was not our target. But as the boys are growing and maturing, why not? Maybe that can be our next target, and if we don’t make it, anything from position one to eight will be fine.”
Ngarizemo, who also won the coach of the series award, cautioned against complacency and getting too carried away, saying the team will celebrate in moderation.
“I think the future looks very bright for the team. We’ll keep on working. There is another big game coming up on Tuesday against BA in Windhoek, so there is no big celebration because tomorrow [yesterday] we have to be back on the training ground to prepare,” said Ngarizemo.
Winning captain Katjiteo said he was privileged to have led the team to their first major honours. He too is an alumni of the 2007 FA Cup-winning Stars side, albeit as a fledgling squad member.
“Back then, things were a bit different. I was a youngster, and things have changed since. Now I am the leader, and being a leader is not easy. The youngsters look up to you, and you must guide them,” said the bustling midfielder. “We were playing for the fans and the town to uplift football in the region so that more teams from this side can also start coming up and challenge for cups.”
Gunners coach Gebhart Hengari hopes the disappointment of finishing runners-up will galvanise their faltering league season.
“Of course we just need to pick ourselves up. This is water under the bridge. We cannot reverse the results, unfortunately. We got second place, which is good enough. It’s not what we wanted, but it happens, and we have to understand that,” he said.
“We are in a bad situation in the league at the moment. We have to regroup and start fighting to improve in the league.”
In their first meeting of the season, Young African condemned the struggling Gunners to their second FA Cup final loss after African Stars had inflicted misery on the military outfit in 2013.
“For me, it was not a bad game. Overall, my boys fought hard, but it is just that we could not convert our chances. We know very well that if you don’t convert your chances into goals, you end up losing, and that’s what happened,” said Hengari.
Young African dominated the individual awards, with Kaovisa Himeezembi Hengombe voted player of the tournament (N$20 000) and Mata Mbemutjiua taking best goalkeeper prize (N$15 000), alongside Ngarizemo’s best coach gong (N$ 15 000).
Itamunua Keimuine of Tura Magic’s five goals earned him the tournament’s leading scorer award (N$20 000).
