‘A taste of good things to come’ – Eichab 

Khomas Nampol went joint top of the log after two wins over the weekend, leaving coach Fortune Eichab elated and looking forward to a successful season. 

Last season Khomas Nampol were in the title hunt till the final stages, leading the log with two months to go before eventually finishing third behind African Stars and FC Ongos. 

Now they are back at the top, leading with Mighty Gunners on seven points after three matches, which included an astonishing 3-1 victory against Julinho Sporting on Saturday. 

Julinho seemed to be heading for an upset win after striker Wise Lifasi scored midway through the second half, but, inspired by their veteran winger Absalom Iimbondi, Nampol made a great comeback with about eight minutes to go. 

He first turned provider sending in a perfect lob for Jantjies Vries to head home, and then put Nampol ahead for the first time with a scorching long range shot from outside the box. 

Substitute striker Ronaldo Vries sealed their victory with an injury time penalty to complete a remarkable 3-1 comeback win. 

After the match, Khomas Nampol coach Fortune Eichab hailed his team on a great performance. 

“There’s still a long way to go and a lot of elements of the game that we need to improve, attacking wise and defensive wise, but I’m happy, this is just a taste of good things to come,” he said. 

“I was impressed with the guys’ character over the last five minutes, the improvement that they showed, the off the ball running, and everything that they gave – imagine, after 87 minutes we were 1-0 down, wow this is incredible,” he added. 

Eichab said they need to improve their defence.

“Last weekend we scored two goals away and today we scored three goals, so at least it shows that we can score goals. We just need to work on our defence, because we conceded again. If we concede too many goals it will count against us at the end of the season,” he said. 

On Sunday, Khomas Nampol beat Cuca Tops 2-0 after goals by Imbondi and former African Stars striker Ngunzo Salazar which put them just ahead of Mighty Gunners on goal difference at the top of the log.

Gunners, who started their campaign with a 1-0 away win against Okahandja United last weekend, beat Tigers 1-0 on Saturday, but were held to a 1-1 draw by FC Ongos on Sunday. 

The two coastal sides Blue Waters and Blue Boys are two points behind on five points each after they both collected four points at Swakopmund’s Vineta Stadium over the weekend. 

Blue Waters beat premier league debutants KK Palace 2-0 and drew 1-1 against Eeshoke Chula Chula, while Blue Boys beat KK Palace 2-1 and drew 0-0 against Chula Chula. 

Four teams follow on four points each, including Tigers, who lost 1-0 to Gunners on Saturday, but bounced back with a 3-0 away win against Okahandja United on Sunday. 

Defending champions African Stars are also well-placed on four points with a game in hand. 

On Friday they were held to a goalless draw by Unam, but on Sunday beat Civics 1-0 after an early goal by Martin Jimms. 

The NFA, meanwhile, has not yet responded on the ownership issue and potential name changes for Civics and Young African, who’s first round matches were postponed.

They continued playing under their normal names last weekend, with Young African drawing 1-1 against Civics and beating Unam 3-1 to go sixth on the log on four points, while Civics are now third from bottom on one point. 

The Civics side that lost to Stars on Sunday was an amalgam of former Civics and Orlando Pirates players, while their technical team is also headed by former Pirates officials, with James Britz as the head coach, assisted by Geoffrey Roman and Michael Pienaar as team manager.

Of their players, only Viril Namaseb, Peter Steven, Trevor Gawanab and Rasantino Xoagub remain from last season’s squad, while former Pirates players Johannes Shifafure, Giovanni Engelbrecht, Riddick Gariseb, Esegiel Garoeb and Tshiamiso Pieters have all joined them.