Late goal by Beukes gives Pirates NFA Cup title

A LATE goal in extra-time by Orlando Pirates stocky striker Ettiene Beukes gave the ‘Buccaneers’ their second NFA Cup title, as they struggled to a 1-0 victory over a determined SKW side at the Independence Stadium on Saturday.

Pirates picked up their first trophy in 2002 at the Rundu Stadium against Tigers, but this time, they had to show their mettle after they were held to a 0-0 stalemate at the end of normal time. Pirates, who went into the match as favourites, had most of their chances kept out by a formidable SKW defence, while the underdogs also made attempts to break the Pirates defence with little success.Beukes scored the winner in the 108th minute after a quick pass in front of goal by Pirates captain Riaan Cloete.Cloete, quick as ever, capitalised on a defensive lapse and worked his way around the ones in his way to lay-off a good ball which Beukes slotted in.The goal sent the vocal Pirates crowd who turned up in numbers into a frenzy, while the security personnel at one stage had to deal with missiles from especially the Pirates fans after the goal was scored.Some of the unruly Pirates fans initially threw missiles at an early stage of the game when Cloete was fouled by SKW goalkeeper Heribert Kapeng in the box.Referee Arvo Mufeti ignored the plea by Cloete, resulting in beer and soft-drink cans being thrown at security personnel and the Pirates players on the bench.The situation nearly got out of hand, but the men from the Humphries Security Division quickly restored order for the match to continue.On the field of play, defensive strongman and SKW skipper Lucky Kakuva kept it tight at the back for the Olympia-based side, while goalkeeper Kapeng gave a good account of himself between the sticks.Kapeng came to the rescue of his team on several occasions as he kept out difficult shots by the Pirates front-line, which was led by Frans de Muinda from the right wing and Beukes in a central role.Cloete, Klaas Blom and substitute Richard Biwa controlled matters and their trickery gave the opposition a tough-time in trying to keep up.At times, the players from both teams lost the ball easily and their shots at goal were not of good quality.The players lost concentration and allowed the match to go into an unexciting dip, only to be urged by their coaches to up their game.In the dying minute of extra-time, the tall SKW striker Arent von Stryk gave his best as he tried to go solo at one stage, only to give in a poor shot that was easily blocked by the exciting Pirates goalie Helmuth Maletzky.Maletzky also kept out good shots from the opposition, with one being a header that was destined for goal by von Stryk in the second half.The presentation ceremony after the match was chaotic as the fans all streamed onto the pitch to congratulate the players, making it difficult for photographers to do their work.NFA president John Muinjo presented Cloete the trophy, but he too, with MTC’s official Bisey Uirab, were swamped by the fans who made it difficult for them to properly congratulate the players.Laurentius Humphries, owner of Humphries Security Guard Division, told The Namibian Sport that the absence of a fence between the tunnel and the field makes it difficult for his men to control the fans.He said a fence would give better control, eliminating danger to players and match officials.Orlando Pirates walked away with N$350 000, while SKW received N$130 000 for their great effort.SKW survived the league the weekend before after beating Pirates 1-0 in their last match, and their entry into the MTC NFA Cup finals complete their historic journey for the season.The team also saw the retirement of their long-serving and former national team player Rolf Beiter from playing duties.He said he would help the club as an assistant to Richard Starke next season.Meanwhile, Pirates dedicated their victory to former captain Lesley !Goagoseb who passed away last week.He was also buried at the weekend ahead of the match.The cup final, which was well-organised by the sponsors, Mobile Telecommunications Limited (MTC) and the NFA, concluded with a music show by various Namibian artists.Pirates, who went into the match as favourites, had most of their chances kept out by a formidable SKW defence, while the underdogs also made attempts to break the Pirates defence with little success.Beukes scored the winner in the 108th minute after a quick pass in front of goal by Pirates captain Riaan Cloete.Cloete, quick as ever, capitalised on a defensive lapse and worked his way around the ones in his way to lay-off a good ball which Beukes slotted in.The goal sent the vocal Pirates crowd who turned up in numbers into a frenzy, while the security personnel at one stage had to deal with missiles from especially the Pirates fans after the goal was scored.Some of the unruly Pirates fans initially threw missiles at an early stage of the game when Cloete was fouled by SKW goalkeeper Heribert Kapeng in the box.Referee Arvo Mufeti ignored the plea by Cloete, resulting in beer and soft-drink cans being thrown at security personnel and the Pirates players on the bench.The situation nearly got out of hand, but the men from the Humphries Security Division quickly restored order for the match to continue.On the field of play, defensive strongman and SKW skipper Lucky Kakuva kept it tight at the back for the Olympia-based side, while goalkeeper Kapeng gave a good account of himself between the sticks.Kapeng came to the rescue of his team on several occasions as he kept out difficult shots by the Pirates front-line, which was led by Frans de Muinda from the right wing and Beukes in a central role.Cloete, Klaas Blom and substitute Richard Biwa controlled matters and their trickery gave the opposition a tough-time in trying to keep up.At times, the players from both teams lost the ball easily and their shots at goal were not of good quality.The players lost concentration and allowed the match to go into an unexciting dip, only to be urged by their coaches to up their game.In the dying minute of extra-time, the tall SKW striker Arent von Stryk gave his best as he tried to go solo at one stage, only to give in a poor shot that was easily blocked by the exciting Pirates goalie Helmuth Maletzky.Maletzky also kept out good shots from the opposition, with one being a header that was destined for goal by von Stryk in the second half.The presentation ceremony after the match was chaotic as the fans all streamed onto the pitch to congratulate the players, making it difficult for photographers to do their work.NFA president John Muinjo presented Cloete the trophy, but he too, with MTC’s official Bisey Uirab, were swamped by the fans who made it difficult for them to properly congratulate the players.Laurentius Humphries, owner of Humphries Security Guard Division, told The Namibian Sport that the absence of a fence between the tunnel and the field makes it difficult for his men to control the fans.He said a fence would give better control, eliminating danger to players and match officials. Orlando Pirates walked away with N$350 000, while SKW received N$130 000 for their great effort.SKW survived the league the weekend before after beating Pirates 1-0 in their last match, and their entry into the MTC NFA Cup finals complete their historic journey for the season.The team also saw the retirement of their long-serving and former national team player Rolf Beiter from playing duties.He said he would help the club as an assistant to Richard Starke next season.Meanwhile, Pirates dedicated their victory to former captain Lesley !Goagoseb who passed away last week.He was also buried at the weekend ahead of the match.The cup final, which was well-organised by the sponsors, Mobile Telecommunications Limited (MTC) and the NFA, concluded with a music show by various Namibian artists.