Black Africa clinched the 2011/12 Premier League title with a 2-1 victory against Orlando Pirates at the Sam Nujoma Stadium on April 14.
It was the perfect setting, in front of their diehard fans and against their traditional rivals, and although they went down 1-0 shortly after halftime, they responded like true champions. They stepped up the tempo as Eslin Kamuhanga equalised from a swift counterattack, while Jerome Louis scored the winner with an exquisite lob into an empty net.
Pirates were stunned, but try as they might they could not deny Black Africa a famous victory, as they received the Premier League trophy in front of their ecstatic fans.
It was the second year in a row that they had won the title, but this time around their dominance was such that they wrapped the league title up with four matches to go, while they were still on course to finish the season unbeaten, which would be another unprecedented milestone.
In our May issue we take a look at their remarkable season, while we also interview their owner Ranga Haikali who tells us more about their secret for success and their plans for the future.
In cricket, our national team beat Canada in their Intercontinental Cup encounter, but then performed below par to draw the 50-over series. This series will play a big role in determining who qualifies for the next World Cup in 2015, and Namibia’s inability to beat the bottom-ranked nation on their home ground has dealt their chances a big blow.
Coupled with their failure to qualify for the T20 World Cup, after starting off so well, it left a sense of spurned opportunities, which will have to be addressed if they hope to play at the highest level.
In rugby news, the new president of the Namibia Rugby Union Bradley Basson surprised many by announcing that Danie Vermeulen had been appointed as the new national coach, with Jood Opperman as the national Under 19 coach. Other candidates like Riaan Jantjies, Jakkals Pretorius and even the former coach Johan Diergaardt were more favoured in the media, but Vermeulen and Opperman represent a new start and a clean break from the past and as such deserve to be given a chance.
It won’t be easy - Namibia’s first hurdle on the long road to 2015 will be away in Madagascar against emerging rugby nations Madagascar and Senegal and the tough Moroccans that Namibia has had some epic battles with in the past.
In cycling, Lotto Petrus caused a major upset when he beat Namibian Olympiad Dan Craven to win the National Road Race as well as Time Trial Championships. Craven was not at his best after excessive travelling and suffering from a stomach bug, but it was a great result for Petrus and Namibian cycling in general.
Our top athletes have been in brilliant form with marathon runner Helalia Johannes and sprinter Globine Mayova both setting new records over the past month, while Tjipekapora Herunga qualified for the Olympics for a second time.
Other athletes like Beata Naigambo and Hitjivirue Kaanjuka are also in fine form and with a host of exciting juniors coming through at the national championships, it bodes well for the international events coming up later in the year.
The main event is of course the London Olympic Games and in this issue we take a look at the 100 Day countdown that was celebrated on April 18 and the preparations of our seven Olympiads as well as others who can still qualify.
We also bring you our regular columns, Local Shorts, ‘They said it’ and the Monthly Sporting attractions, and remember to enter the FNB Player of the Month competition.
Till next time, enjoy the mag!
Helge Schutz
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