Clubs ready to rumble

Eight action-packed matches are scheduled in this weekend’s Debmarine Namibia Premier League with 16 clubs set to contend for the coveted trophy.

The premier league has been sponsored to the tune of N$18 million, of which N$14 million is set to go to prize money and club grants.

African Stars will come all-out to defend their title. With leadership from the likes of Ronald Ketjijere, Charles Hambira, Edmund Kambanda, and regular goal-scoring from Willy Stephanus and Edmar Kamatuka, Starlile fans had much to celebrate in the previous edition, which earned the club a stint in the CAF Champions League.

However, local football pundit Isack Hamata says a repeat won’t be as easy as last season, when they were log leaders throughout and remained unbeaten until a late away loss to Blue Waters.

“Other teams have woken up very early this time and have started preparations well ahead of time. Also, there is a challenge with Stars having an aging squad. Will their legs be able to carry them through the entire season or will they introduce some younger but talented youngsters?” Hamata wondered.

Asked which club he reckons might impress in the new season, Hamata added that it is too early to exactly identify any clear surprise packages. “But we should cast our eyes on Khomas Nampol, the new kid on the block in the Premier League. They have signed a couple of good players from other rival clubs,” he stated.

Sport Wrap has compiled the names of all the clubs, as well as their head coaches as well as the fixtures with the locations and kick-off times of the opening weekend.

The clubs and their coaches:

African Stars – Prince George Koffie (with Mervin Mbakera as assistant coach)

Blue Waters – Lucky Shipanga

Mighty Gunners – Kati Nambandi

Life Fighters – Agnus Elemu

Okahandja United – Richard Gariseb

Tigers – James Britz

Ongos FC – Paulus Shipanga

Orlando Pirates – Ali Akan

Civics – Jerry Zimmer

Unam FC – Ronnie Kanalelo

Young African – Maleagi Ngarizemo

Julinho Sporting – Nelson Luis

Khomas Nampol – Fortune Eichab

Okakarara Young Warriors – Emil Katimune

Eeshoke Chulu Chulu – John Sikerete

Okakarara Young Warriors – Emil Katjimune

Young Brazilians – Tolla Julius



This weekend’s fixtures:

Saturday (all the matches will start at 15:00):

African Stars v Orlando Pirates (SKW Stadium, Olympia)

Young Brazilians v Nampol (J. Stephanus Stadium, Karasburg)

Blue Waters v Okakarara Young Warriors (Vineta Stadium, Swakopmund)

Young African v Ongos FC (Legare Stadium, Gobabis)

Julinho Sporting v Life Fighters (Rundu Sport Stadium)

Okahandja United v Unam (Nau-Aib, Okahandja)

Sunday:

Eeshoke Chula Chula v Mighty Gunners (Oshakati Stadium, 14:00)

Civics v Tigers (SKW Stadium, 15:00)