Stars move into top gear

Log-leaders African Stars are peaking at the right moment as their premier league title defence moves into top gear, and are strong favourites to stretch their lead even further when they take on struggling Civics and Tigers this weekend. 

After an indifferent start to the league that saw them dropping points in a 3-2 defeat to FC Ongos and draws against Blue Waters (0-0) and Chula Chula (1-1), they moved down to third on the log behind the early pacesetters FC Ongos and Khomas Nampol.

They maintained their position after two away wins against Julinho (3-0) and Okakarara Young Warriors (4-2), but when they lost the Hage Geingob Cup final 1-0 to Chula Chula on 18 November, their Ghanaian coach Prince Koffie was fired less than 24 hours later. 

Former coach Marvin Mbakera, who steered their brilliant campaign last season when they lost only one match and finished 12 points clear to win the title, was recalled and he picked up where he left off, with four successive victories, including a 10-0 hammering of Young Brazilians.

Last weekend they cut Khomas Nampol down to size with 3-1 win and with the league now nearing the halfway mark, they have moved three points clear at the top of the log on 32 points from 13 matches. 

Their win against Nampol was built around a great defensive effort where Charles Hambira kept a tight lid on Nampol’s attacks, and some slick attacking transitions with Willy Stephanus and Ibroihim Youssouff prominent. 

Stephanus assisted both Youssouf’s goals, while Uetuuru Kambato continues to grow in stature, scoring their third goal and putting in some strong attacks.

Mbakera has made clear that they have unfinished business in the African Champions League and want to return as soon as possible. 

“We have a clear objective; we still want to conquer Africa and for that we have to win the league and we are determined to do so,” he said after their victory against Young Brazilians. 

This weekend they will start as strong favourites to collect maximum points against Civics tonight and Tigers on Sunday – two teams that are both struggling. 

Civics are third last on 12 points, with only three wins from their opening 13 matches, and will be desperate to move clear from the relegation zone, where five teams are now within three points of each other. 

Tigers are just above that group in ninth position on 17 points, and they too will be fighting to stay clear of the drop zone when they take on Stars on Sunday. 

If Stars collect a rich haul of points this weekend, they could stretch their lead even further as their main challengers, FC Ongos and Khomas Nampol could both drop points when they face each other tomorrow afternoon. 

FC Ongos made a strong statement when they beat African Stars 3-2 on 1 October, but they have also changed coaches since then, firing Paulus Shipanga, while his assistant Ephraim Tjihonge took over the hot seat. 

He got off to a 2-0 win against Tigers, but then dropped points in a 1-1 draw against Civics and will need a win tomorrow to remain in touch with Stars. 

Junias Theophilus and Kleopas Useb have been in fine scoring form for FC Ongos, while other stalwarts like Wangu Gome, Larry Horaeb and Simon Elago have led their charge.

Khomas Nampol, however, have developed a fine squad with experienced players like Denzil Haoseb, Erasmus Ikeinge and Absalom Iimbondi and some exciting youngsters like Rewaldo Prins, George Frans and Ben Namib making their mark, and tomorrow’s encounter between two evenly-matched sides should be a humdinger. 

Blue Waters, who are now fourth, nine points behind Stars, will need to pick up points if they want to remain in touch with the leaders, but they face two tough away matches against fifth-placed Eeshoke Chula Chula (21 points) in Oshakati tomorrow and tenth-placed Mighty Gunners (15 points) in Otjiwarongo on Sunday. 

In other matches, Young Brazilians host Young African and FC Ongos at Keetmanshoop; Okakarara Young Warriors host Life Fighters and Julinho at Grootfontein; and Unam travel north to take on Julinho at Rundu and Life Fighters at Otjiwarongo.