Exciting action on the cards – NPL resumes next weekend

EXCITING action is on the cards after Namibia Premier League Administrator Joshua ‘Tovey’ Hoebeb confirmed that league soccer action will resume next weekend after a long delay caused by the FNB Cup action.

The FNB Cup competition culminated with the December festive season, which meant that local fans were starved of domestic league competition for almost six months. Said Hochobeb: “You can safely say that the NPL action will resume next week, on Friday January 12, to be precise.This is a little bit unusual because it has been quite a while that our domestic league had not been active.”We understand the frustration of the players as well as the fans out there but they can get their smiles back because they will be able to see their favourite teams and stars in action.We are all looking forward to the resumption of the league.”Altogether 12 mouth-watering fixtures are billed at venues across the country, with the Sam Nujoma Stadium double-header featuring Orlando Pirates vs Ramblers and Black Africa vs United Africa Tigers regarded as the pick of the weekend.Ramblers’ clash against the Katutura Buccaneers is particularly highly regarded because of the fact that the Rampant Rammies, as Ramblers are known is soccer circles, are currently heading the Premier League log standings.Ramblers, who have amassed eight points from their four matches played so far, will, however, need to be at their level best when they engage a Pirates outfit who will be looking to impress their thousands of loyal fans around the country.In fact, Pirates are likely to be boosted by the presence of a very large and partisan crowd as the venue is situated in their Dolam stronghold.In addition, the Pirates technical team will be boosted by the presence of head coach Brian ‘Robson’ Isaacs, who is widely considered as one of the shrewdest tacticians in the local game.On the other hand, Ramblers are not known as the Rampant Rammies for nothing, and the Pionierspark-based outfit have been in superlative form of late.And in Tollie van Wyk and David Fransman, Ramblers have two of the most experienced coaches in the league.Black Africa, who sprung the biggest surprise of the opening round of the NPL, will have the tricky task of entertaining their cross-town rivals, and fiercest rivals in the local game, when they lock horns with Tigers in the last match of the double-header.The Lively Lions will, however, be out to prove their 1-0 victory over pre-season favourites Buschschule Civics was no fluke against the hard-running Tigers, or rather Ingweinyama, as Tigers are affectionately known.League action will switch to other venues at Oshakati, Outjo and Windhoek on Saturday and Sunday.Another double-header is billed for the Walvis Bay-based Kuisebmond Stadium when local favourites Blue Waters will pit their strength against defending league champions Civics in the earlier match.The Beautiful Birds and the Bethlehem Boys have by far been the most dominant forces in the local cup and league competitions.In fact, the boys from Khomasdal just ended the Birds dominance of the league for the last two seasons.Blue Waters and their Zimbabwean coach Shepard Murape know that a win over Civics will go a long way towards boosting their confidence as they aim to re-launch a serious assault on the league title they have last won two seasons ago.But Murape will be first person to admit that victory against the Mighty Civilians won’t come cheap and he will demand extra effort from his charges for the mammoth task that lies ahead.The match has the potential of turning into a real humdinger.Blue Waters’ neighbours and bitter foes have a much easier task to wrest maximum points from Premier League returnees Friends when the two sides clash in the second outing of the Walvis Bay double-header.Another “yo-yo” club of the Premier League, Golden Bees, who have made dropping out and returning back to the elite league a habit, are also expected to have their hands full when they host team-of-the-moment African Stars.The much-awaited tie is billed for the Etoshapoort Stadium at Outjo next Saturday, the same venue where they will engage fellow newcomers Cymot SKW FC the following day.The Bees need to focus hard for both encounters.Northern giants Fysal Oshakati City will exchange opponents with Golden Bees, with the Oshana Lions playing SKW on Saturday before they pit their strengths against the Samba Boys of African Stars on Sunday.Oshakati City have proved to be very tricky customers at their Independence Stadium venue at Oshakati and both their opponents need to focus hard on the job at work if they want to return to the capital with smiles on their faces.Said Hochobeb: “You can safely say that the NPL action will resume next week, on Friday January 12, to be precise.This is a little bit unusual because it has been quite a while that our domestic league had not been active.”We understand the frustration of the players as well as the fans out there but they can get their smiles back because they will be able to see their favourite teams and stars in action.We are all looking forward to the resumption of the league.”Altogether 12 mouth-watering fixtures are billed at venues across the country, with the Sam Nujoma Stadium double-header featuring Orlando Pirates vs Ramblers and Black Africa vs United Africa Tigers regarded as the pick of the weekend.Ramblers’ clash against the Katutura Buccaneers is particularly highly regarded because of the fact that the Rampant Rammies, as Ramblers are known is soccer circles, are currently heading the Premier League log standings.Ramblers, who have amassed eight points from their four matches played so far, will, however, need to be at their level best when they engage a Pirates outfit who will be looking to impress their thousands of loyal fans around the country.In fact, Pirates are likely to be boosted by the presence of a very large and partisan crowd as the venue is situated in their Dolam stronghold.In addition, the Pirates technical team will be boosted by the presence of head coach Brian ‘Robson’ Isaacs, who is widely considered as one of the shrewdest tacticians in the local game.On the other hand, Ramblers are not known as the Rampant Rammies for nothing, and the Pionierspark-based outfit have been in superlative form of late.And in Tollie van Wyk and David Fransman, Ramblers have two of the most experienced coaches in the league.Black Africa, who sprung the biggest surprise of the opening round of the NPL, will have the tricky task of entertaining their cross-town rivals, and fiercest rivals in the local game, when they lock horns with Tigers in the last match of the double-header. The Lively Lions will, however, be out to prove their 1-0 victory over pre-season favourites Buschschule Civics was no fluke against the hard-running Tigers, or rather Ingweinyama, as Tigers are affectionately known.League action will switch to other venues at Oshakati, Outjo and Windhoek on Saturday and Sunday.Another double-header is billed for the Walvis Bay-based Kuisebmond Stadium when local favourites Blue Waters will pit their strength against defending league champions Civics in the earlier match.The Beautiful Birds and the Bethlehem Boys have by far been the most dominant forces in the local cup and league competitions.In fact, the boys from Khomasdal just ended the Birds dominance of the league for the last two seasons.Blue Waters and their Zimbabwean coach Shepard Murape know that a win over Civics will go a long way towards boosting their confidence as they aim to re-launch a serious assault on the league title they have last won two seasons ago.But Murape will be first person to admit that victory against the Mighty Civilians won’t come cheap and he will demand extra effort from his charges for the mammoth task that lies ahead.The match has the potential of turning into a real humdinger.Blue Waters’ neighbours and bitter foes have a much easier task to wrest maximum points from Premier League returnees Friends when the two sides clash in the second outing of the Walvis Bay double-header.Another “yo-yo” club of the Premier League, Golden Bees, who have made dropping out and returning back to the elite league a habit, are also expected to have their hands full when they host team-of-the-moment African Stars.The much-awaited tie is billed for the Etoshapoort Stadium at Outjo next Saturday, the same venue where they will engage fellow newcomers Cymot SKW FC the following day.The Bees need to focus hard for both encounters.Northern giants Fysal Oshakati City will exchange opponents with Golden Bees, with the Oshana Lions playing SKW on Saturday before they pit their strengths against the Samba Boys of African Stars on Sunday.Oshakati City have proved to be very tricky customers at their Independence Stadium venue at Oshakati and both their opponents need to focus hard on the job at work if they want to return to the capital with smiles on their faces.