Battle for promotion on

THE race for two first-division teams to land places in the MTC Namibia Premier League next season is still far from over.

The Southern Stream First Division has Invincible, Hotspurs and Deportivo Alaves, all gunning for the first spot before the league in the lower divisions concludes on June 2. Invincible are leading with 41 points, closely followed by Hotspurs with 40 points, while Deportivo are on 36 points.In the Northern Stream First Division, Chief Santos, who were relegated last season, have been the front-runners for some time now, but they are kept in check by Mighty Gunners and Cuca Tops, who have all gained more than 20 points from over ten matches played.The winner in each of the two first divisions will automatically gain promotion to the premiership next season.The elite league ended at the weekend and saw Friends and Golden Bees being relegated to the Southern and Northern First Division Streams respectively.Friends were relegated after gaining promotion last season for the second time.Friends ended the league second from the bottom with 20 points from 22 matches, but exited the league on an embarrassing note with a 11-1 defeat at the hands of Civics on Sunday, the highest score line in the league this season.Friends contained Stars well on Saturday after only losing 1-0, but things fell apart for the Rehoboth side on Saturday in a match which saw Civics striker William Chilufya netting seven goals to increase his chances of walking away with the top goal scorer award.The premiership also ended with two derbies in Windhoek and Walvis Bay on Sunday.Blue Waters and Arrows drew 2-all in their derby, but Orlando Pirates were the better side as they beat Black Africa 2-1.BA’s midfielder Lolo Goraseb missed a crucial penalty that could have ensured a draw.SKW also ended their league campaign on a high note, with a 1-0 win over African Stars, while Tigers and Ramblers shared the spoils in a 2-all draw.Civics ended the season with 50 points – 10 points clear from rival Oshakati City (40), who finished in that position for the first time in their history since joining the premiership.Civics had a feast in front of goal throughout the season as their strikers helped themselves to a total of 52 goals, while their goalkeepers only conceded 11 goals, also the lowest in the league.Friends have the worst record of goals conceded, which is 57, while the lowest scoring team was Black Africa, with only 23 goals to its credit.Civics are guaranteed of N$500 000 as league winners, the biggest amount in domestic football for a club, while Oshakati City will pocket N$225 000.Ramblers, who ended third, will take home N$130 000, while SKW, who impressed in their first premiership season, will receive N$90 000 for fourth place.Eleven Arrows also made it among the top five and secured N$45 000, while African Stars will bank N$30 000 for ending in sixth spot.Stars have another opportunity to increase their earnings for the season, provided they win the MTC NFA Cup, which has a prize of N$350 000 for the winner.They can also settle for N$130 000 as runners-up, provided the defending champions Pirates fail to live up to their billing on the day.Invincible are leading with 41 points, closely followed by Hotspurs with 40 points, while Deportivo are on 36 points.In the Northern Stream First Division, Chief Santos, who were relegated last season, have been the front-runners for some time now, but they are kept in check by Mighty Gunners and Cuca Tops, who have all gained more than 20 points from over ten matches played.The winner in each of the two first divisions will automatically gain promotion to the premiership next season.The elite league ended at the weekend and saw Friends and Golden Bees being relegated to the Southern and Northern First Division Streams respectively.Friends were relegated after gaining promotion last season for the second time.Friends ended the league second from the bottom with 20 points from 22 matches, but exited the league on an embarrassing note with a 11-1 defeat at the hands of Civics on Sunday, the highest score line in the league this season.Friends contained Stars well on Saturday after only losing 1-0, but things fell apart for the Rehoboth side on Saturday in a match which saw Civics striker William Chilufya netting seven goals to increase his chances of walking away with the top goal scorer award.The premiership also ended with two derbies in Windhoek and Walvis Bay on Sunday.Blue Waters and Arrows drew 2-all in their derby, but Orlando Pirates were the better side as they beat Black Africa 2-1.BA’s midfielder Lolo Goraseb missed a crucial penalty that could have ensured a draw.SKW also ended their league campaign on a high note, with a 1-0 win over African Stars, while Tigers and Ramblers shared the spoils in a 2-all draw.Civics ended the season with 50 points – 10 points clear from rival Oshakati City (40), who finished in that position for the first time in their history since joining the premiership.Civics had a feast in front of goal throughout the season as their strikers helped themselves to a total of 52 goals, while their goalkeepers only conceded 11 goals, also the lowest in the league.Friends have the worst record of goals conceded, which is 57, while the lowest scoring team was Black Africa, with only 23 goals to its credit.Civics are guaranteed of N$500 000 as league winners, the biggest amount in domestic football for a club, while Oshakati City will pocket N$225 000.Ramblers, who ended third, will take home N$130 000, while SKW, who impressed in their first premiership season, will receive N$90 000 for fourth place.Eleven Arrows also made it among the top five and secured N$45 000, while African Stars will bank N$30 000 for ending in sixth spot.Stars have another opportunity to increase their earnings for the season, provided they win the MTC NFA Cup, which has a prize of N$350 000 for the winner.They can also settle for N$130 000 as runners-up, provided the defending champions Pirates fail to live up to their billing on the day.