Pirates clinch title in style

ORLANDO Pirates have done it! The Buccaneers clinched the first premiership title in their illustrious 45-year history, when they beat Mighty Gunners 3-1 at the Mokati Stadium at Otjiwarongo on Saturday.

Pirates, despite their numerous cup wins in local football, had never tasted victory in the most supreme title of them all. They also became N$500 000 richer after Saturdays win.The thirst of thousands of their followers for victory was quenched in great style on a sunny afternoon with wild celebrations well into the morning hours in especially Otjiwarongo and Windhoek.Players could not contain their joy after the final whistle as they first picked up their coach Brian Isaacs and threw him in the air several times before popping champagne corks and spraying bubbly all over club owner Hendrik Dawids.Pirates players and supporters also had special T-shirts made declaring them the champions, while hordes of supporters camped at the stadium celebrating well after the match had ended.The fans stormed onto the pitch to congratulate the players after the new-look MTC Namibia Premier League trophy was handed over to team captain Eric Aoseb.The stadium was painted in black and white as the supporters overcame all the boundaries of fights and hooliganism which at times go along with football.The win means that Pirates will be eligible to play in the African Champions League, which pits all the league winners on the continent against one another.Pirates on Saturday prevented Civics from claiming their fourth successive title when the triple league champions drew one-all against the now relegated Fedics United in Windhoek.Civics took second spot in the league, while Ramblers, who at one stage were clear front-runners to scoop the title, were held to a 2-all draw by Sport Klub Windhoek (SKW).Ramblers striker Pinehas Jacob will pick up the Top Goalscorer prize at the football awards later this month.On Saturday he added two goals to bring his season total to 12, ahead of Tigers striker Tangeni Shipahu who has 11.Blue Waters bowed out of the premiership on a low note when they were sent back to the coast with a 3-1 defeat by African Stars, a result which sealed their place as one of the worst performers during the season.Blue Waters joined Fedics last weekend already and will play in the Northern Stream First Division.Oshakati City scored four goals past Black Africa to win 4-2, while Tigers succumbed to Eleven Arrows in a 1-0 defeat at Walvis Bay.Next season, former premier league campaigners Chief Santos will make a return to the elite fold after gaining promotion in the Northern Stream First Division, while Hotspurs Football Club from Windhoek will be the other new contender after they graduated from the Southern Stream First Division.The champions of the league in the two streams join the premiership, while two teams are dropped from the 12-team NPL.They also became N$500 000 richer after Saturdays win.The thirst of thousands of their followers for victory was quenched in great style on a sunny afternoon with wild celebrations well into the morning hours in especially Otjiwarongo and Windhoek.Players could not contain their joy after the final whistle as they first picked up their coach Brian Isaacs and threw him in the air several times before popping champagne corks and spraying bubbly all over club owner Hendrik Dawids.Pirates players and supporters also had special T-shirts made declaring them the champions, while hordes of supporters camped at the stadium celebrating well after the match had ended.The fans stormed onto the pitch to congratulate the players after the new-look MTC Namibia Premier League trophy was handed over to team captain Eric Aoseb.The stadium was painted in black and white as the supporters overcame all the boundaries of fights and hooliganism which at times go along with football.The win means that Pirates will be eligible to play in the African Champions League, which pits all the league winners on the continent against one another.Pirates on Saturday prevented Civics from claiming their fourth successive title when the triple league champions drew one-all against the now relegated Fedics United in Windhoek.Civics took second spot in the league, while Ramblers, who at one stage were clear front-runners to scoop the title, were held to a 2-all draw by Sport Klub Windhoek (SKW).Ramblers striker Pinehas Jacob will pick up the Top Goalscorer prize at the football awards later this month.On Saturday he added two goals to bring his season total to 12, ahead of Tigers striker Tangeni Shipahu who has 11.Blue Waters bowed out of the premiership on a low note when they were sent back to the coast with a 3-1 defeat by African Stars, a result which sealed their place as one of the worst performers during the season.Blue Waters joined Fedics last weekend already and will play in the Northern Stream First Division.Oshakati City scored four goals past Black Africa to win 4-2, while Tigers succumbed to Eleven Arrows in a 1-0 defeat at Walvis Bay.Next season, former premier league campaigners Chief Santos will make a return to the elite fold after gaining promotion in the Northern Stream First Division, while Hotspurs Football Club from Windhoek will be the other new contender after they graduated from the Southern Stream First Division.The champions of the league in the two streams join the premiership, while two teams are dropped from the 12-team NPL.