SA Legends win penalty shoot-out

Namibian and South African football legends of yesteryear turned on the style in an exhibition match at the Hage Geingob Cup on Saturday.

Several members of the Brave Warriors’ legendary Class of ’98, who beat Bafana twice in succession in the Cosafa Cup, were in action, but this time they ended on the losing side as the South African Legends came from behind to win the match 5-4 on penalties.

The Namibian team included several legends of the Class of ’98, like Bimbo Tjihero, Tiger Goagoseb, Mohammed Ouseb, Ricardo Mannetti, Lolo Goraseb, Gerros Urikhob, Page Ananias, Sandro de Gouveia and Robert Nauseb, as well as other, slightly younger legends like Congo Hindjou, Quinton Jacobs, Razundara Tjikuzu, Danzyl Bruwer, Athiel Mbaha, Paulus Shipanga, Dokkies Schmidt and Richard Gariseb.

The South African Legends included former star players like Docter Khumalo, Lucas Radebe, Steve Lekoelea, Happy Jele, Cyril Nzama and a more recent star, Siphiwe Tshabalala.

Paulus Shipanga came close for Namibia early on, shooting over the bar from a Razundara Tjikuzu cutback, while Dokkies Schmidt also shot wide.

South Africa, however, started to assert themselves, with Tshabalala, leading most of their attacks down the left wing.

Katlego Mashego came close, while Lekoelea hit the back of the net from a Tshabalala cross, only for the goal to be disallowed for offside.

Namibia, however, caught them by surprise when they launched a quick attack after a waterbreak and Page Ananias opened the scoring when his shot went through the goalie’s legs into the net.

More chances came their way in the second half, with substitute Rolf Beiter providing some enticing crosses, but Ananias and Gerros Urikhob’s efforts were off target, and SA soon got back into the game.

A shot by Tshabalala rattled the crossbar, before Mashego latched onto a great throughpass to chip the ball into the Namibian net.

Cascas Angula, who came on as a second half substitute, put in a few weaving runs, and actually hit the back of the net with an acute angled shot, but the goal was disallowed for offside, and the match had to be settled on penalties.

Wheras the Namibian legends of 1999 won their shoot-out against Bafana Bafana in the Cosafa Cup, this time the South Africans had the final say, coming from behind to clinch the victory.

Namibian keeper Danzyl Bruwer pulled off two early saves to give Namibia the advantage, but South Africa drew level at 3-3 after Shipanga’s shot was saved and Ananias’ shot hit the upright.

Tshabalala and Goagoseb both scored their spot kicks to make it 4-4, and when Lekoelea scored, South Africa took the lead for the first time, and they clinched the match when Quinton Jacobs blasted his shot over the bar.