Civics are confident underdogs

CIVICS are expected to enter Securicor Loftus in Pretoria as underdogs against Supersport United on Saturday night, but they are poised to come out on tops despite this fact.

Kick off is 19h30. The two sides clash in a Confederation of African Football (Caf’s) Champions League first leg, on March 6, with the return leg billed for the Independence Stadium in Windhoek on March 19.Civics will compete for the first time in the tournament, and this is by virtue of winning the Namibia Football Association (NFA) Cup last year.With Ali Akan now confirmed as the Technical Advisor and Helmuth Scharnowski remaining as Head Coach, the side also includes experienced players who turned-out at the highest level in the country.Scharnowski told The Namibian Sport that the team had two practise sessions since the start of the domestic league about six weeks ago, and are well prepared for the match.”We want to get a good result out there to make thing easier for us, when we play them home.We have the confidence that we will do well, and to even do better in Windhoek,” he said.He said he was happy with the fitness level of the players, while expressing delight that some of his key players have no injuries.”The players are sharp and focused at training and their level of commitment in every drill that we have had has been phenomenal,” said Scharnowski.Akan said he was also impressed by the discipline and a sense of professionalism that the players have been showing since he joined the club about three weeks ago.”The players know what is expected from them, and I am honoured to work with them as they are very eager to do well against Supersport United,” he said.The most capped player at Civics is the 24-year old midfield general Congo Hindjou, who has turned out for the Brave Warriors on 68 occasions.Hindjou will have no choice but to take charge of the midfield, but will have an added advantage if he surrounds himself with the talented players such as Heinrich Isaacs, Ellington Tjirimuje and Congo Ngatjizeko.The hitman upfront for the Civilians will be Floris Diergaardt, who also has a wealth of experience on the international front with 19 caps for the Warriors, while Cascas Angula, who played 17 times for Namibia’s senior team is the other likely frontman.Civics will also bank on Zambian-born William Chilufya, who have proven to be a prolific goalscorer in the domestic league.At the back, the absence of defender and captain Amos Shiyuka, will leave Dixon Witbeen to draw a line in curbing attackers coming close to the visiting team’s goal lines.Witbeen at 27, has played 11 times for Namibia and it is expected that Alfred Munyaza will lead the back line with him.In goal, Danzyl Bruwer, who is the second most capped player at the club with 37 matches behind him, has the ability to do well if he cuts out his acrobatic stunts.The Supersport United website yesterday said the Premier Soccer League (PSL), side is ‘expected to easily win its match against Civics.’ It now remains the Namibian team’s obligation to prove this statement wrong, provided they field the best team on the day, while scoring goals should be the priority.The two sides clash in a Confederation of African Football (Caf’s) Champions League first leg, on March 6, with the return leg billed for the Independence Stadium in Windhoek on March 19.Civics will compete for the first time in the tournament, and this is by virtue of winning the Namibia Football Association (NFA) Cup last year.With Ali Akan now confirmed as the Technical Advisor and Helmuth Scharnowski remaining as Head Coach, the side also includes experienced players who turned-out at the highest level in the country.Scharnowski told The Namibian Sport that the team had two practise sessions since the start of the domestic league about six weeks ago, and are well prepared for the match.”We want to get a good result out there to make thing easier for us, when we play them home.We have the confidence that we will do well, and to even do better in Windhoek,” he said.He said he was happy with the fitness level of the players, while expressing delight that some of his key players have no injuries.”The players are sharp and focused at training and their level of commitment in every drill that we have had has been phenomenal,” said Scharnowski.Akan said he was also impressed by the discipline and a sense of professionalism that the players have been showing since he joined the club about three weeks ago.”The players know what is expected from them, and I am honoured to work with them as they are very eager to do well against Supersport United,” he said.The most capped player at Civics is the 24-year old midfield general Congo Hindjou, who has turned out for the Brave Warriors on 68 occasions.Hindjou will have no choice but to take charge of the midfield, but will have an added advantage if he surrounds himself with the talented players such as Heinrich Isaacs, Ellington Tjirimuje and Congo Ngatjizeko.The hitman upfront for the Civilians will be Floris Diergaardt, who also has a wealth of experience on the international front with 19 caps for the Warriors, while Cascas Angula, who played 17 times for Namibia’s senior team is the other likely frontman.Civics will also bank on Zambian-born William Chilufya, who have proven to be a prolific goalscorer in the domestic league.At the back, the absence of defender and captain Amos Shiyuka, will leave Dixon Witbeen to draw a line in curbing attackers coming close to the visiting team’s goal lines.Witbeen at 27, has played 11 times for Namibia and it is expected that Alfred Munyaza will lead the back line with him.In goal, Danzyl Bruwer, who is the second most capped player at the club with 37 matches behind him, has the ability to do well if he cuts out his acrobatic stunts.The Supersport United website yesterday said the Premier Soccer League (PSL), side is ‘expected to easily win its match against Civics.’ It now remains the Namibian team’s obligation to prove this statement wrong, provided they field the best team on the day, while scoring goals should be the priority.