A solitary goal by Joseph Kashamako was enough to give Unam a 1-0 victory against DTS on Saturday to win the men’s Premier League field hockey title. Kashamako scored midway through the first half from a short corner to secure Unam’s sixth successive title and ninth title in the past ten years.
Despite still having to play bottom of the log Polytech, the victory put Unam five points clear of second placed Wanderers with the result that they could not be hauled in anymore.
Fielding a young side and without top striker Siabonga Martins who was suspended after being red carded against Wanderers the previous weekend, Unam took the game to DTS from the start.
Stalwarts like Kashamako, Heini Swartbooi, Erwin Handura and Evaristus Kashungu led the way with their consistent attacks, but youngsters like Penda Nambala, Trevor Hinamanu, Albert Kadungure and JR Mouton all played their part to maintain Unam’s dominance of the men’s game in Namibia over the past decade.
Heini Swartbooi initiated the opening goal with a fine attack into DTS’ penalty area before laying the ball onto Nambala who won a short corner after an infringement. From the resulting set piece, Kashamako slammed the ball into the net.
Unam had several more opportunities to stretch their lead in the second half but failed to capitalise on them. Kashamako, Handura and Swartbooi all put in strong attacks, but they could not break through DTS’ defence, for whom Peter Johns and Sedric Makati excelled.
In the final stages Kashamako missed a great opportunity when he beat several defenders including DTS’ goalie with a great run into the box, only to blast his shot over the cross bar.
In another match on Saturday, Wanderers beat Windhoek Old Boys 2-1 to maintain their second position on the log.
Ettienne de Villiers opened the scoring from a short corner in the first half, and although WOB pulled a goal back, Wanderers secured the victory after a fine solo goal by Francois Fuscher.