Category: Sports

OPUWO: The Namibian Correctional Service Football Club maintained its lead in the Southern Stream First Division after defeating rivals Blue Boys Football Club (FC) and Eleven Arrows FC in two consecutive games over the weekend.

The Correctional Service squad has emerged as a formidable challenger in the league since it started, having signed some of the country’s best talents during its recruiting process last year. On Saturday, NCS defeated Eleven Arrows 2-1 before upsetting Blue Boys 2-0, their closest competitor for the league crown. The weekend results have extended NCS’s winning streak to eight games, a tie, and one defeat, with 25 points at the top of the log standing.

In other Saturday games, Davos defeated Oranjemund 2-1, and former Namibia Premier League stronghold Black Africa, which is currently in turmoil due to infighting among its top leaders, suffered another defeat after a humiliating 6-2 loss to Dates Eleven. Deutscher Turn und Sportverein (DTS) beat Try Again 3-1, while Blue Boys outscore
d Latinos 4-1.

In Sunday’s results, Ramblers played to a one-all draw against Dates Eleven. At the same time, Davos defeated Try Again in a 5-1 goal thriller, while DTS was humiliated by Oranjemund in their home stadium, losing five goals to nil. Latinos fell at home to Eleven Arrows, and Black Africa lost 3-1 to Mariental Sport Club.

Some clubs in the league have played 10 or 11 games, while Ramblers and DTS have played nine, with Black Africa playing the fewest (four). NCS currently lead the league with 25 points, followed by Blue Boys with 22 points and Eleven Arrows in third with 18 points.

Dates Eleven, Mariental Sports Club, and Davos all have 17 points, placing fourth, fifth and sixth, respectively. Try Again are seventh in the log standing with 12 points, followed by Latinos in eighth place with 11 points. Ramblers and Oranjemund FC are in ninth and 10th place with 10 points, respectively, while DTS are in 11th place with seven points. Black Africa are comfortably in the relegation zone after faili
ng to secure a single point in all of its matches.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

ACCRA: With a display of beautiful traditional dances, performances and more the 13th African Games opened at the University of Ghana Sports Stadium on Friday night.

The launch of the 13th African Games was punctuated by the usual parade of athletes representing 53 countries taking part in the high mass of the continental sporting event that generated a viewership of more than 2.2 billion viewers across the globe.

Renowned Ghanaian dancehall artist Shatta Wale, as well as the legendary highlife artists Pat Thomas, and Ebo Taylor, gave their all to thrill their appreciative audience.

This was complemented by breathtaking performances of South Africa’s Kamo Mphela and Ghana’s King Promise.

Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo the President of Ghana welcomed all the participating countries in his commemorative speech, wishing them the best of luck.

He urged the participants to use the games to exhibit the talents that Africa possessed. 

Mousse Fati Mahamat, Chairperson of the African Union Commission commended Ghan
a for the massive investments in sporting facilities and infrastructure to host the games.

‘Sports has the power to change the world. It has the power to inspire, it has the power to unite people in a way that little else does, it speaks to youth in a language they understand,’ he said. 

The renowned sports personality urged the athletes and officials to be ambassadors of fair play, equity, discipline, inclusion, tolerance and teamwork to achieve a successful event. 

More than 6,000 athletes are competing in 29 disciplines. The disciplines include arm wrestling, basketball, boxing, chess, football, volleyball, handball, athletics, table tennis, and badminton.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

WINDHOEK: Relegation-threatened Civics and Life Fighters put up impressive performances on Saturday to collect maximum points during round 22 of the Debmarine Namibia Premiership at the Independence Stadium in the capital.

Otjiwarongo-based Life Fighters have found the going tough this season, winning only two games from 21 fixtures. In the round of 22, they managed to register their third win of the season after outclassing Tigers 3-0 in front of a few Tigers and Life Fighters followers who gathered at the Independence Stadium.

In the opening half of the match, the two outfits struggled to move forward as most of the action happened on the wings and at the back.

Despite the lack of action in most half of the game, Life Fighters saw themselves awarded a penalty minutes before the halftime break, and Max Kandundu made no mistake from the spot as they took the 1-0 lead.

In the second half, Tigers made changes at the back and front but their decision saw Life Fighters once again finding the back of the net t
hrough Abner Tsuseb who doubled their score. With the game approaching the 90-minute mark, the football gods were once again on Life Fighters’ side as Vasana Muatjundu put the final nail in Tigers ‘coffin with their third goal of the match.

Despite the win, Life Fighters remained bottom of the log but improved their points tally from 12 to 15, moving closer to Orlando Pirates who are 15th on the log with 17 points after their goalless draw with Okakarara Young Warriors.

Meanwhile, in the second match between UNAM FC and Civics at the same venue, the Khomasdal-based outfit managed to break the deadlock in the second half after struggling to beat the UNAM defence throughout the first half.

Civics went into the game 13th on the log standing level on 19 points with Okakarara Young Warriors who occupied 14th position. Civics used this match as a turning point for the relegation battle.

The Khomasdal-based outfit put two goals past UNAM in the second half to register their fifth win of the season.

The win now
moves them from 13th to 12th position on the log with 22 points, while Rundu-based Julinho Sporting, who lost 3-0 to African Stars in Okahandja on Saturday, moved down to 13th position.

In other matches also played on Saturday, Okahandja United managed to collect a point at home in their 1-1 draw against Khomas NamPol, while in Walvis Bay, Blue Waters finally found their scoring boots as they put three goals past Young Brazilian.

In another match played at the Lagare Stadium in Gobabis, Young African were held to a goalless draw at home by Eeshoke Chula Chula.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

WINDHOEK: Mighty Gunners head coach, Gerhard Hengari, said he is happy with what his team has achieved thus far in the Debmarine Namibia Premiership, but their goal is to finish in a better position than last season.

During the 2022/23 Debmarine Namibia Premiership season, the Otjiwarongo-based Namibia Premiership team finished in fourth position on the log standing but their coach told Nampa that his goal is to improve from that position this season.

With only eight games left in the 2023/24 Debmarine Namibia Premiership, Mighty Gunners are sixth on the log standing with 32 points and are 10 points away from the envisioned third-place finish.

Khomas NamPol occupies the third spot on the log with 42 points, but Hengari says his hope and prayer is for his player to be focused and lose momentum in their remaining games of the season.

‘Last season we finished fourth on the log standing. Our aim for this season was to finish better than number four. We are not aiming at winning the league this season but if t
hat happens it will be a bonus,’ said Hengari, who stated that any position better than number four will be good for them.

Hengari added that he was happy to collect maximum points against league title contenders FC Ongos on Friday, but their celebration will be short-lived if they don’t focus on their remaining games of the season.

‘Winning against the team that is leading the log standing is a good motivation to continue working hard but I hope and pray that our players don’t lose focus and will be mentally strong for our upcoming fixtures so that we can do better than we did last season,’ he said.

Out of 22 games played this season Mighty Gunners’ have won eight times, drawn eight times and lost six games. They have scored 24 goals and conceded 18 goals. Their next fixture of the weekend will be against Young African at the Legare Stadium in Gobabis.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

WINDHOEK: Mighty Gunners head coach, Gerhard Hengari, said he is happy with what his team has achieved thus far in the Debmarine Namibia Premiership, but their goal is to finish in a better position than last season.

During the 2022/23 Debmarine Namibia Premiership season, the Otjiwarongo-based Namibia Premiership team finished in fourth position on the log standing but their coach told Nampa that his goal is to improve from that position this season.

With only eight games left in the 2023/24 Debmarine Namibia Premiership, Mighty Gunners are sixth on the log standing with 32 points and are 10 points away from the envisioned third-place finish.

Khomas NamPol occupies the third spot on the log with 42 points, but Hengari says his hope and prayer is for his player to be focused and lose momentum in their remaining games of the season.

‘Last season we finished fourth on the log standing. Our aim for this season was to finish better than number four. We are not aiming at winning the league this season but if t
hat happens it will be a bonus,’ said Hengari, who stated that any position better than number four will be good for them.

Hengari added that he was happy to collect maximum points against league title contenders FC Ongos on Friday, but their celebration will be short-lived if they don’t focus on their remaining games of the season.

‘Winning against the team that is leading the log standing is a good motivation to continue working hard but I hope and pray that our players don’t lose focus and will be mentally strong for our upcoming fixtures so that we can do better than we did last season,’ he said.

Out of 22 games played this season Mighty Gunners’ have won eight times, drawn eight times and lost six games. They have scored 24 goals and conceded 18 goals. Their next fixture of the weekend will be against Young African at the Legare Stadium in Gobabis.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

ACCRA: With a display of beautiful traditional dances, performances and more the 13th African Games opened at the University of Ghana Sports Stadium on Friday night.

The launch of the 13th African Games was punctuated by the usual parade of athletes representing 53 countries taking part in the high mass of the continental sporting event that generated a viewership of more than 2.2 billion viewers across the globe.

Renowned Ghanaian dancehall artist Shatta Wale, as well as the legendary highlife artists Pat Thomas, and Ebo Taylor, gave their all to thrill their appreciative audience.

This was complemented by breathtaking performances of South Africa’s Kamo Mphela and Ghana’s King Promise.

Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo the President of Ghana welcomed all the participating countries in his commemorative speech, wishing them the best of luck.

He urged the participants to use the games to exhibit the talents that Africa possessed. 

Mousse Fati Mahamat, Chairperson of the African Union Commission commended Ghan
a for the massive investments in sporting facilities and infrastructure to host the games.

‘Sports has the power to change the world. It has the power to inspire, it has the power to unite people in a way that little else does, it speaks to youth in a language they understand,’ he said. 

The renowned sports personality urged the athletes and officials to be ambassadors of fair play, equity, discipline, inclusion, tolerance and teamwork to achieve a successful event. 

More than 6,000 athletes are competing in 29 disciplines. The disciplines include arm wrestling, basketball, boxing, chess, football, volleyball, handball, athletics, table tennis, and badminton.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency