Africa-Press – Namibia. BLACK Africa and Orlando Prates head into their derby tomorrow in contrasting positions, while unbeaten Blue Waters and African Stars meet in a log-leading decider when the final Debmarine Namibia Premiership matches before the festive season take place this weekend.
With the Sam Nujoma Stadium still out of bounds, the traditional Katutura derby will be held at the Unam Stadium with Pirates, for once, starting the match as the favourites.
They are one of only three teams that are still unbeaten in the league, along with Blue Waters and African Stars, and despite only lying eighth on the log, have two matches in hand on log-leaders Life Fighters and a victory against BA could see them moving into the top three. BA, meanwhile, have had a poor start and are currently second last on the log on only two points from six matches, but despite being the favourites, Pirates coach Woody Jacobs is expecting a tough encounter.
“We will go into the match as the favourites because of a better log position and better form, but all in all it will be forgotten when we play Black Africa,” he said.
“I don’t want to get overawed by the history and the rivalry – for me it’s just another team that we need to get three points off and that has always been my focus. I also told my players that come Saturday, BA will be a different ball-game altogether because of the historic rivalry that exists between the two clubs… It’s a big one, it’s against an arch-rival, but it’s one that we should win and we are preparing as such,” he added.
Black Africa coach Brian Isaacs said that an exodus of players before the start of the league led to their poor start to the season.
“Three days before our first match 17 of our senior players rejected new contracts offered by the club, so I had to assemble a new team from scratch. They left on the Tuesday, so on Wednesday we held trials and on Thursday we registered about 17 new players,” he said.
Some of the established players that left the club included Brave Warriors stalwarts like Denzil Haoseb, Willy Stephanus, Dynamo Fredericks and Immanuel Heita, and Isaacs’ new young squad struggled at first, losing their opening three matches to Life Fighters, Julinho Sporting and Blue Waters, before picking up their first point in a 1-1 draw against Eleven Arrows on 27 November.
Since then they also drew against Young African, but lost to Tigers, and are currently struggling in the drop zone in second last position on only two points. Isaacs, however, said he was excited about the new players in his squad and that they were highly motivated for the match.
“It’s been a difficult start for us, but I’m now trying to implement my style of play so that we can be competitive again. I’ve got a young and inexperienced team, they are the new kids on the block, but there is a lot of talent and they are very keen and motivated for the derby,” he said.
African Stars, meanwhile, have two matches in store against Eleven Arrows tomorrow and Blue Waters on Sunday and with two matches in hand and only two points behind log-leaders Life Fighters they are well-placed to move up the log.
Arrows have had an indifferent start and are currently lying 11th on the log, with only one win and four draws, but Blue Waters have been in fine form and are currently second on the log on 14 points, after winning four and drawing two of their opening six matches.
Their clash at the Nau-Aib Stadium at Okahandja on Sunday will be an important pointer in terms of the title race, with the winner bound to go to the top of the log before the festive break.
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