Southern Stream starts

The race for promotion to the MTC Premiership begins this weekend when the Southern Stream First Division kicks off.

The action will be spread across six venues in Windhoek, Swakopmund, Kalkrand, Keetmanshoop, and Gobabis.

After narrowly missing out on promotion to the NPL last season, Try Again and Young African are again expected to be among the frontrunners this term, with Blue Boys, who finished fifth and Young Brazilians behind them also capable of mounting a challenge for honours.

Last season’s runners-up Try Again starts the season at home to Spoilers from Okahandja at Keetmanshoop’s famed J Stephanus Stadium on Saturday before hosting Rebels, who dropped down from the NPL last season, at the same venue the follow day.

Rebels’ quest to return to the premier division will also see them face Hardap Boys, formerly known as Spartans, in Kalkrand on Saturday.

Having finished third last season, Young African’s chase for promotion begins with a home tie against Windhoek United at the Legare Stadium in Gobabis on Saturday and then Ramblers on Sunday.

Also looking for improved fortunes this time around are coastal side Blue Boys, who after a solid early campaign faltered in the latter stages to end fifth – six points adrift off eventual champions Flamingoes.

“Most of the teams that finished towards the top have retained their core players and added a few new ones to strengthen for the new season. There is quality in the teams so I think the competition will be tough this season,” league administrator Mervin Geiriseb told The Namibian Sport yesterday.

“We anticipate an exciting season ahead and expect especially the teams from the south to put up a stronger challenge this time,” Geiriseb said.

“Even though only two teams were promoted to the league, I can say we have four new teams if you include the teams who acquired the franchises of two others. It will be interesting to see how they fare against the established sides,” he added.

Blue Boys have struggled for consistency since suffering relegation from the premiership three seasons ago but performed well enough last term to suggest that they can rediscover the type of form that landed them the SSFD title before their demise.

In their way this weekend are newcomers Date Eleven from the modest Naute Dam settlement, followed by another showdown against a far-south side in Young Brazilians.

Both matches will be played at the Mondesa Stadium in Swakopmund.

The Brazilians’ weekend assignment is completed with a contest at Walvis Bay’s Narraville Stadium against Western Spurs, who assumed the identity of Kaizen Academy – last season’s fourth-place finishers.

Formerly part of the Erongo Region Second Division, the ambitious Spurs also face Dates Eleven, who gained promotion from the //Karas Region Second Division, at Narraville on Sunday.

In other fixtures, rookies Khomas Nampol take on Ramblers at the Sam Nujoma Stadium on Saturday and face Windhoek United at the same venue on Sunday.

Hardap Boys and Spoilers round of the weekend’s action when they clash at the Kalkrand Stadium on Sunday.