Khomas Nampol’s great start continues

Khomas Nampol continued their great start to the Debmarine Namibia Premiership as they maintained their 100% record with two more victories over the weekend.

On Friday they beat Unam 2-1 in a close encounter at the SKW Stadium. 

Rewaldo Prins gave them the lead when he pounced onto a loose ball to score shortly before halftime, but Unam equalised early in the second half when Nestor Iyambo finished off a quick counter-attack. 

The game started opening up with chances at both ends, but it was Nampol who got the winner through a great goal seven minutes from time by George Frans, who ran onto a long clearance and beat his man-marker with pace and power to put the ball past the outrushing keeper into the net. 

That sent Khomas Nampol’s vociferous fans wild with delight, but more was in store on Sunday when they beat Life Fighters 4-0 after another fine display. 

Terdius Uiseb gave them the lead after barely three minutes, finishing off a swift attack by Prins, while another incisive attack by Absalom Iimbondi led to their second goal as his pinpoint cross was deflected by Vasana Muatjindu into his own net. 

Iimbondi made sure of getting amongst the goal scorers when he finished off a swift counterattack just before halftime, while George Frans sealed an emphatic victory with a great shot from the edge of the box in the closing stages. 

That was their fifth successive victory, which put them three points clear at the top of the log on 15 points, but their asistant coach Mateus Moses was determined not to get carried away. 

“We prepared well for the match, but as my head coach (Fortune Eichab) always says, we are just aiming for survival in the premiership this season. It’s a great feeling to be on top of the log – we are a new team in the premiership and on a winning streak, so it’s motivating the boys as well as our fans, who have been giving us great support,” he said.

“We will just take it one game at a time, so now we will just plan for the next one and what lies ahead,” he added. 

It was also a great weekend for FC Ongos, who collected maximum points to go second on the log on 12 points. 

On Saturday they came from behind to beat Julinho Sporting 2-1 after a brace by Kleopas Useb. Mapenzi Muwanei put Julinho ahead after only three minutes, but Useb equalised on 33 minutes with a volley in the box, and then scored the winner on 79 minutes after a fine solo effort. 

On Sunday, Useb scored another brace as Ongos beat Okakarara Young Warriors 3-2.

Their two wins follow on their victory against African Stars on 30 September, and what made their achievements even more noteworthy was the fact that regular goalkeeper coach Ephraim Tjihonge was in charge, in the absence of head coach Paulus Shipanga, who is currently with the Brave Gladiators at the Cosafa Cup in South Africa. Tjihonge, however, was quick to divert attention, saying they needed Shipanga back as soon as possible. 

“Coach Paulo, we need you – as much as you are doing duty for the country on the other side, we really need you, we really miss him and I must say, he’s one of the best young coaches in the country and when he comes back I think we will do even better,” he said. 

“I’m very grateful – it’s not my first time standing in as a head coach, so its not something new for me, but we have the guidance of a great technical team, and the mind behind the scenes, Ricardo Mannetti. But I’m very thankful for these guys to put their trust in me,” he said. 

Defending champions African Stars collected four points on the road to move up to third place on 10 points, after beating Okahandja United 4-0 on Saturday, before being held to a goalless draw by Blue Waters at Walvis Bay on Sunday. Their Ghanaian striker Peter Adiwoh scored a hattrick against Okahandja, with Uetuuru Kambato scoring their fourth goal. 

Okahandja bounced back from their defeat to Stars with a 4-2 victory against Orlando Pirates on Sunday, to go fourth on nine points, while Blue Waters, who also drew 1-1 against Pirates on Saturday, are fifth on eight points. 

Eeshoke Chula Chula beat Civics 2-0 on Saturday and drew1-1 to Tigers on Sunday to go sixth on the log on seven points, and with two games in hand on the leaders they can still move further up. 

Young Brazilians, meanwhile, jumped six placed up the log to ninth position on six points after beating Life Fighters 1-0 and Unam 2-1 at Keetmanshoop.

In other results, Mighty Gunners beat Tigers 2-0 and drew 0-0 against Civics; and Young African drew 0-0 against Julinho and 2-2 against Okakarara Young Warriors.