Oryza chilling with the big boys

Zambezi second division outfit Oryza Sativa’s fairytale run continues to the PSTbet NFA Cup quarter-finals, as favourites African Stars refuse to count their chickens before they hatch.

Little known Sativa stunned Life Fighters 1-0 in the round of 16 at Oshakati Independence Stadium on Saturday to set up a date with Young Brazilians, who beat Young African 2-0 at Swakopmund.

Recently crowned premier league champions African Stars trounced Orlando Pirates 4-0, with winning head coach Ronny Kanalelo saying they were only focused on the next match and not being top of the podium.

After a goalless first half, Stars upped the tempo and scored four times through Uetuuru Kambato, Willy Stephanus, Mbakondja Tjahikika and Obry Amseb without reply to book their spot in the quarter-final stage.

Starlile next face Tigers, who overcame Civics 7-6, following a goalless draw and marathon penalty shoot-out.

When asked about their cup ambition, Kanalelo said his side would take the competition “one game at a time” and not get carried away by the emphatic win over the fallen Buccaneers.

“When we hear who our opponent is, we start working towards the opponent. But most of the time, I look into my team. I don’t really look into what the opponents are doing. If we can minimise them with our structure, with our way of playing, I’m quite happy,” he said.

“And from there I can always tweak things around, you know, based on the situation on the field. I concentrate more on how we need to play, how we need to control the game, how we need to take the game.

“The opponents themselves have to detect what we are actually doing on the field,” Kanalelo said.

Stars’ main challenge for double honours will likely come from Khomas Nampol who won a five-goal thriller against Ongos.

Absalom Iimbondi, Reverend Matroos, and George Frans scored for Nampol, with Nicodemus Haikali getting a brace for Ongos.

Nampol finished third to Stars in the race for Namibia Premier Football League title and are keen to challenge for the cup.

Okahandja United stand in the way of that ambition, and on the evidence of their dominant 3-1 victory over Julinho Sporting on Saturday, they look like a formidable barrier.

“Nampol only went up to the round of 16 before. So, we wanted to go past the round of 16. Now we are in the last eight. So, anything is possible,” said Nampol coach Fortune Eichab after the pulsating clash with Ongos, who finished third in the premier league.

“We will not take it lightly. We will see what we can do. But we want to go as far as possible, we want to go all the way,” he said.

Eeshoke Chula Chula, renowned for being cup specialists, beat Unam 1-0 to remain on course for a second piece of silverware to go with the Dr Hage Geingob Cup.

After making an impression by finishing fifth during their debut premiership season, Chula Chula are eager to cap that achievement with the NFA Cup.

First they need to get past Mighty Gunners who strolled into the last eight with a comfortable 4-0 win over Further Fighters.