Arrows off to a flying start

The Arrows Ladies Football Club defeated Namib Daughters Football Club 3-2 in an entertaining FNB Women’s Super League match played at the Mondesa Soccer Stadium in Swakopmund on Saturday.

Both teams came out pressing and created numerous chances, but failed to find the back of the net. Arrows dictated the pace of the match with some slick passing while Namib Daughters enjoyed most of the ball possession during the opening stage.

Senoritha Aochamus came close for Namib Daughters and had her shot blocked by the Arrows goalkeeper Anandi Vries in the 15th minute. The Daughters goalie was also called into action at the other end with a goal-bound directed attempt from the edge of the box by Arrows captain Ignacia Hoases in 19th minute.

Arrows eventually broke the deadlock. Jekohasana Kamatjipose latched onto a through ball and found the back of the net in the 23rd minute. Elsabe Whitney stunned the crowd with a second goal for the visitors from Windhoek, scored in the 27th minute.

Vries, the Arrows goalie, had to receive treatment after she rushed out to thwart an attempt and collided with by Rooide Ndumba in the 29th minute.

Namib Daughters intensified the search for their first goal. Captain Haoses came close but failed to scramble the ball over the goal line in the 40th minute.

When the opportunity befell Moriza Gawanas in the 44th minute, she made no mistake and restored some hope (2-1) for the coastal fans and her team-mates.

Kamatjipose could have made it 3-1, but she directed her header agonisingly wide moments before the whistle went for half-time.



Renewed enthusiasm

Namib Daughters returned with renewed enthusiasm. The home team came close to scoring the equaliser on two occasions, but stubborn defending by Arrows kept them at bay.

Kamatjipose scored her second and her team’s third goal in the 55th minute (3-1). Talitha Aubes rounded off a good build-up and replied for Arrows in the 65th minute (3-2). An alert Arrows goalie, Sarafina Khuruses, prevented Kamatjipose from scoring her third goal on two occasions.

The Arrows Ladies coach Salomon Nakale said he was extremely proud of his squad and that he appreciated efforts by the opposition. “We will analyse the match and must keep the tempo, consistency and hunger to play and win. There are some issues that need fixing, so we will attend to that. The players need to be more clinical when dealing with the chances that come their way.”

He added that his team was new to the Super League set-up. “We will play 14 teams and have set ourselves the objective of finishing with a top eight position, which I believe is a fair target.”

He named Kamatjipose as his player of the match and thanked First National Bank Namibia for boosting women’s soccer and for doing what has never been done before.

“The league will do the community and players good. It will help players get aligned with doing the right things, and keep them focused and productive.”



Back to the drawing board

Namib Daughters coach Ryaan Matsi named Whitney his player of the match. He added that a lack of game fitness cost his side dearly.

“We are the only team from the region competing in the league. Many of our senior players left and we have a fairly young squad. This was our first game and I think we need another three more games to gel. It is definitely back to the drawing board for us.”