Football

The Southern Stream First Division continues this weekend with some interesting matches taking place that could have an influence on the title race.

Currently the title race is still wide open with three teams locked at the top of the log within a point of each other.

Young Beauties of Keetmanshoop lead the log with 19 points from eight matches, followed by Windhoek United and Blue Boys from Swakopmund who are both on 18 points.

The Namibia Football Association (NFA) has intensified the hunt for a new head coach of the national senior soccer team the Brave Warriors following the resignation of acting coach Bernard Kaanjuka last month.

At an emergency meeting held on the sidelines of the 13th edition of the Namibia Newspaper Cup during the past Easter weekend, the NFA Executive Committee discussed the vacancy of the Brave Warriors substantive coach and resolved to look upon the appointment of the coach as an urgent matter.

Substitute Helmut Roberto Rugam came off the bench and scored the only goal of the 2013 Namibian Newspaper Cup final as the hosts Otjozondjupa beat Omaheke 1-0 to be crowned the 2013 champions.

After a goalless first half Otjozondjupa coach John Sikerete brought on Romario Maans and Helmut Rugam to good effect.

Maans’ long pass onto the right wing was duly crossed back into the box by the speedy winger Barnand Horaseb and was headed in at the near post by Rugam to send the capacity crowd into wild celebrations and raptures.

The hosts Otjozondjupa Region were in devastating form on Day Three of the 2013 Namibian Newspaper Cup as they cruised into the final where they will meet Omaheke Region on Easter Monday at 12h00 at Paresis Park in Otjiwarongo.

Action resumed on Sunday with two more games from Group C which had one more region than the other two groups which were decided on Saturday evening.

The matches were played at the same time and Otjozondjupa who were already through to the semi-finals took on Oshana at the A Field and led 1-0 at halftime through a goal by Barnand Horaseb.

The Hardap region has been banned from the Namibian Newspaper Cup after using six ineligible players.

The secretary general of the Namibia Football Association Barry Rukoro issued a press release on Saturday evening saying that Hardap had been suspended from the competition.

“This is to inform the media that the Organising Committee of the Namibian Newspaper Cup received a complaint from Karas pertaining to the use of seven players who were not eligible to play in this competition,” it read.

Omaheke, Otjozondjupa and Khomas regions booked their berths in Sunday’s semi-finals at the 2013 Namibia Newspaper Cup underway at the Paresis Park in Otjiwarongo.

The second day of the Namibian Newspaper Cup youth tournament got off to promising start on Saturday nine-man Oshikoto held Khomas to a one-all draw in Group B.

Nathan Gideon got the lead for Oshikoto in the first half but he later in the half joined teammate Roxon Ganseb for an early shower as they saw red for different incidences in the match.

A total of 16 goals was scored on the first day of the annual Namibian Newspaper Cup Under-20 Youth Tournament underway at Paresis Park in Otjiwarongo.

On Match-day one of the competition on Good Friday there were a lot of surprises.

Omaheke region opened their Group A account with an emphatic 4-0 drubbing of Omusati region through goals by Albertus Nunuheb, McBride Ndjavera and a brace by Man of the Match Unomasana Tjitaura.

The 2013 Namibian Newspaper Cup will be better and more exciting than ever before and the Organising Committee has pulled out all the stops to ensure a memorable four days of youth football at Otjiwarongo over the Easter weekend.

According to the chairperson of the Namibian Newspaper Cup Organising Committee David Goagoseb, all logistics are in place for the tournament that starts on Good Friday.

“We have had various meetings with various partners over the past few weeks and months all aimed at ensuring that we put together the best Namibian Newspaper Cup ever," he said.

The Young Gladiators and Westfalia played to a thrilling 3-3 draw in their second international encounter on Wednesday afternoon.

The match started in electrifying fashion as Namibia scored two goals within the opening three minutes.

Captain Lovisa Mulunga swung in a cross from the right wing that went high over German keeper Rebecca Kuhlow into the net and two minutes later Vistorine Shangula did the same from the left wing.

Westfalia did well to regroup and struck back through a goal by Annalena Rieke and another by Vildan Kardesler that went high into the net.

The Namibia Football Association’s technical director Klaus Stark will take over the reigns as coach for the Brave Warriors when they take on the Namibian Newspaper Cup Shadow Teram in Otjiwarongo on Sunday.

Since the resignation of interim coach Bernard Kaanjuka on Monday, the Brave Warriors have been without a coach but NFA spokesman Dan Kamati confirmed that Starke will take over the hot seat at the Newspaper Cup, which starts in Otjiwarongo on Friday.