Julinho seek cup reprieve 

When looking for the potential PstBet NFA Cup winner, Julinho Sporting may not be the first name that springs to mind.

Especially following an underwhelming season in which they clung on to their topflight status by the skin of their teeth.

However, that poor campaign is history and not in keeping with Julinho’s ambitions, says club chairman Dino Ballotti.

Julinho posted the highest winning margin in Sunday’s FA Cup round of 32 clashes, registering an emphatic 8-0 defeat of Hardap second-division outfit Friends to book their place in the last 16.

It is a result, albeit it against lower-league opposition, that shows the Rundu club’s intent, Ballotti says.

“We definitely didn’t expect to have such a high scoreline. Credit to the opposition, Friends. Definitely a worthy opponent. I think the team really were motivated to have a good result – regardless of the score,” he says.

“We told the boys this is your opportunity to win a new contract. We’re definitely planning for the new season. We don’t want to find ourselves in the same position next season, fighting a relegation fight.”

Forward Mapenzi Muwanei was the star of the show, scoring four goals, with Victor Hara, Gerson Paulus, Kativa Ngongo and Mahupe Ngonga also on target for Julinho.

Alfred Otto got Friends’ consolation strike.

Muwanei’s performance suggests he has put recent troubles behind him, having quit the team over a fallout with the head coach Nelson Luis before being persuaded to reconsider.

“I think the lads really just came to the table. The effort was excellent. Our marksman, Mapenzi Muwanei, clearly had a point to prove,” Ballotti says.

“I think it’s well documented that he had resigned a month or so ago. We spoke to him, and I think both parties obviously could have done things a bit differently.

“So, we smoked the peace pipe, so to say, and we’re glad he came to the party scoring four goals,” he says.

“We’ve told our players that there’s really only three wins to take us to the semi-final, and that’s where the money is. So, we have two to go. I don’t think we’re getting ahead of ourselves.

“We remain humble. We know we can do better. We believe it was a season that here and there we were a bit unfortunate, and we definitely don’t think our log standing is an indicator of our quality.”

On a day when no upsets where recorded, goals flowed freely for the ‘big boys’ as the lower-tier sides found the going tough.

With the exception of Young African (YA), who needed a penalty shootout to overcome Golden Bigs, all Namibia Premier Football League clubs enjoyed relatively comfortable outings.

Following a 1-1 draw inside 90 minutes, YA prevailed 5-3 on penalties.

Young Brazilians ruthlessly saw off Ohangwena’s Hamutu Mbangela 6-1, thanks to a Quinton van Staden brace and a goal each from Karl Gaseb, Zenzo Ollman, Nkosi Nqxabi and Vincentius Jobs.

Hamutumbangela got on the scoresheet through Lot Hamuata.

Okahandja United eased into the last 16 after beating Youngsters from //Kharas 3-1.

United’s Goncalves Chissele scored twice and Andre Domingoes once, as Delron Isaack for Youngsters.

Khomas Nampol beat Khomas second-division side Swallows 4-0 as Absalom Iimbondi bagged a brace, with one goal each for George Frans and Revered Matroos.

Tigers emerged 4-2 victors over Unam Ogongo. Two goals each from Immanuel Ampofo and Juninho Jantze each scored twice for Tigers FC as Olavi Petrus and Tuyeni Petrus found the target for Ogongo.

FC Ongos reached the next round after making hard work of their match with African United, with Nikodemus Haikali’s solitary strike the difference.

A Ueuturu Kambato hat-trick and a double from Ibrahim Yousuf earned favourites African Stars a commanding 5-0 victory over Kunene second-division club Khaibasen.