Archive - Apr 2009 - Story

Khomas qualified for the final of the Namibian Newspaper Cup after beating Hardap 2-0 on Sunday. Playing in front of a bumper Easter crowd of about 6 000 people on the immaculate new artificial turf at the Sam Nujoma Stadium, the star-studded Khomas side were just too strong for Hardap.

The Khomas side included numerous junior Namibian international players as well as Premier League players like Civics winger Eslin Kamuhanga and Orlando Pirates winger Sydney Urikhob, while the Hardap team had one Premier League player in Tigers striker Samuel Goagoseb.

Namibia kept their World Cup hopes alive after comfortably beating the United Arab Emirates by 49 runs in Pretoria on Saturday. Namibia got off to a poor start as their openers once again failed to build a solid foundation.

Namibia were immediately under pressure at 8/2 after Raymond van Schoor was out for a golden duck and JB Burger for 5.

Namibia’s middle order however came to the rescue as Sarel Burger scored 30, Craig Williams 40 and Gerrie Snyman 32.

Okahandja Beauties maintained their unbeaten record in the Khomas Women’s Football League but were pushed all the way before beating Poly Babes 2-0 last weekend.

It was the first time that Beauties had received stiff opposition this season after racking up 45 goals in their four previous matches against sub standard opposition.
The victory puts Beauties at the top of the log with 15 points from five matches and a goal difference of 46 goals.

Second placed Rehoboth Queens, who have 9 points from 3 matches, are also still unbeaten after beating Unam Bokkies 4-0.

The Namibia Football Association’s technical director Klaus Stark and his wife Doris have assisted a children’s orphanage in Havana, Katutura by donating some food and toys.

Their assistance is a follow up to a donation in December, under the motto “Soccer Cares” when Stark, national coach Tom Saintfiet, Nele Kahle, a representative of Buschschule Civics FC and Paul Stramis the Civics team manager, handed over soccer balls and food to the orphanage.

By Chris Buckland

Namibia’s top junior athletes and some invited senior athletes competed in the 13th Coca Cola Frankie Fredericks Invitational Athletics meet at the Independence Stadium in Windhoek on April 3. There were outstanding performances in many events in particular the Junior Men’s 400 meters, which was won by De Salvano Beukes in a time of 49,98 seconds and the Junior Women’s 110 meter Hurdles which was won by Steffi van Wyk in a time of 15,05.

They may not have done as well as expected at the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier, but Namibian star Gerrie Snyman believes that it is essential for ICC Full Member countries to provide more opportunities to cricket’s emerging countries.

Namibia has been able to benefit from Cricket South Africa’s support in including it in their domestic competitions, which many credit to helping Louis Burger’s side reach the final of the ICC Intercontinental Cup last year when it narrowly lost to Ireland.

Jerome Louis of Black Africa remains at the top of the MTC Namibia Premier League goalscorers list on completion of Round 15 of the league. Louis missed BA’s match against Civics last weekend since he was on national duty with the Brave Warriors against Angola. He however still remains comfortably at the top of the list with 16 goals from 14 matches.

There was no change amongst the top three scorers with Marco van Wyk of SKW and Eslin Kamuhanga of Civics also on national duty. Van Wyk remains second on 11 goals and Kamuhanga third on 10 goals.

Defending champions Western Suburbs have taken a four-point lead at the top of the MTC Rugby Premier League after completion of last weekend’s third round matches. Suburbs have won all three their opening matches, picking up two bonus points in the process to move to the top on 14 points.

All three their matches to date have been at home at Suburbs Park. On Saturday they beat last year’s beaten finalists Wanderers 20-17, while they previously beat Unam 28-3 and Jaguars 34-21.

Namibia miraculously qualified for the next round of the ICC World Cup qualifiers despite losing their final Group match to Ireland on Wednesday. Namibia had to thank Oman for their progress after they scored a sensational one-wicket victory over Uganda after chasing down a mammoth target of 299 to win with almost 13 overs to spare.

After Joel Olweny’s innings of 85 helped Uganda reach 298-5, some spectacular hitting from Farhan Khan, who smashed 95 off 49 balls, in a bid to improve its net run rate, helped Oman reach its target in a dramatic finale.

Ireland comfortably beat Namibia by seven wickets in their ICC World Cup qualifier on Wednesday, but Namibia still have a slight chance of reaching the second round of the competition following Oman’s sensational one-wicket victory against Uganda.

Oman’s victory means that Namibia, Oman and Uganda have all finished joint fourth in their group with two points each and the team with the best run rate of the three will now progress to the second round. The official result is still pending although Cricinfo’s website put Namibia at the top of the three with the best run rate.