Goal drought at Oshakati

OMAHEKE, Oshikoto, Oshana and Erongo continued the trend of goal shy encounters and only one victory after six matches of The Namibian Newspaper Cup at Oshakati Independence Stadium on Friday.

Powered by Standard Bank Namibia, the popular football and netball competition made its return after a two-year hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

In match No.5, Oshana captain Erastus Joseph, who won the player of the match prize, scored a first half penalty to put the hosts ahead by half-time.

However, Erongo came out firing on all cylinders and equalised through an acrobatic volley from lively forward Mbeurora Murananganda midway through the second half.

For all their industrious display Omaheke and Oshikoto could not find the back of the net in their goalless stalemate with the defences of both sides coming out on top.

“This wasn't the results we expected. At the end of the day both teams gave their best, so we will try again tomorrow,” said Oshikoto defender Bright Augumeb who was voted the best player of the match.

Omaheke head coach Uerikondjera Kasaona was less pragmatic about the result after falling short of collecting all three points in the entertaining encounter.

The only woman coach in the football competition, ex-Brave Gladiator skipper Kasaona rued her side's missed chances and demanded better from them.

“Luck wasn't on our side. We had the upper hand in terms of dominating the ball and making it to the final third but the finishing was not there. It's something we have to work on if we want to go far in the tournament. We'll go back to the drawing board and try to improve our scoring for the matches ahead,” she said.

Earlier today, //Kharas beat Kavango West 1-0 to kick-start their title defence, after which Zambezi drew 1-1 with Otjozondjupa. That score line was replicated in the matches between Omusati and Ohangwena, and Hardap versus Kunene.