African Stars shoot eight places up the log

AFRICAN Stars warmed up for their African Champions League match against Volcano de Moroni tomorrow night with an emphatic 3-1 league victory against Okahandja United on Sunday afternoon.

Stars stormed into a 3-0 half time lead after a brace by Roger Katjiteo and a great free kick by Gustav Isaak and although Stanley Kamesiepo replied for Okahandja in the second half, Stars completed a commanding victory.

The result sees them shooting eight places up the log to fourth on six points, and with a game in hand on Black Africa who head the log on 10 points, they are right back in the mix.

Stars started the match on fire and Katjiteo put them ahead after only seven minutes when he volleyed home a cross by Godwin Jena.

They continued attacking and created several more chances with Aubrey Amseb, Treasure Kauapirura, Engelhardt Kahua and Ronald Ketjijere all coming close in the early stages.

In one of Okahandja’s rare attacks, Kamesiepo headed in a goal, but it was ruled offside and it was not long before Stars increased their lead through a great free kick by Isaak that went over Okahandja’s keeper Calvin Spiegel and dipped into the net.

Katjiteo completed a great half for Stars with his second goal just before the break when he once again stabbed home a cross by Jena.

Okahandja made more of an impact in the second half and opened their account when substitute Marco van Wyk volleyed home a cross by Lorenzo Majiedt.

Another substitute, Petrus Natangwe also came close when he headed against the post from a corner, while Stars’ keeper Vipua Tjimune saved well from a cross by Gift Kwaramba in the final stages.

Stars’ coach Robert Nauseb said he hoped that they had now found their goal scoring touch.

“It was a very tough match, it was not easy after coming back from the Comoros Islands since we only had two or three days to prepare. In training we concentrated on finishing, because we haven’t been scoring goals, so I’m very happy that we got three goals today and I hope this is the start of scoring goals for us,” he said.

“I had a feeling about Roger Katjiteo and told him before the match, today is the day that you will score, and he went on to score two goals. I’m really proud of my boys – they are working tirelessly and giving me what I’m asking for,” he added.

African Stars will now prepare for their return leg match against Volcano de Moroni at the Sam Nujoma Stadium tomorrow night, and after they drew the first leg match 0-0 on the Comoros Islands last week, they are in a good position to win the tie and progress to the next round.

Nauseb said he was confident that they can win tomorrow night’s match to progress to the next round.

“They are not an easy opponent, but I am confident that we will create chances and we will try to get an early goal,” he said.

The winner will almost certainly face Orlando Pirates from South Africa in the next round, after the Buccaneers came from behind to thrash Light Stars of the Seychelles 5-1 in their first leg match in Soweto last week.

Pirates scored twice in stoppage time through Zambian Justin Shonga and Linda Mntambo to complete a resounding victory.

Mario Rava gave the Indian Ocean part-timers a shock early lead, but Pirates recovered to lead 3-1 by halftime with Zambian Augustine Mulenga among the goals.