CFC retains tourney trophy
12 February 2020 | Sports
The Cohen Fistball Club (CFC) kicked off the 2020 Bank Windhoek Fistball League campaign on a high note over the weekend at Swakopmund.
The team retained the tournament trophy after a gripping comeback at the hands of bitter rivals Sport Klub Windhoek (SKW) 1, who took the Category A final match to the wire.
Deutscher Turn und Sportverein (DTS) also put in high performances to win the Category B final for the first time.
In the group and semi-final stages, only eight teams took part: Three from the hosts Swakopmund Fistball Club (SFC), four from CFC and a team representing SKW.
In the group stages, CFC 1, SFC's under-50, SFC 2, DTS and CFC 3 faced each other in group A. As the defending champions, CFC 1 managed to brush aside their competitors, win four fixtures and finish at the top of the group. DTS ended second, followed by CFC's third team, while SFC's over-50 finished at the bottom of the group after losing all its fixtures. SKW 1 defeated CFC 2, SFC 1 and CFC 4 in group B. Backed by home turf advantage, SFC 1 overcame two teams from CFC and finished second in the group. CFC 2 and 4 ended third and fourth respectively.
In the intermediate round, CFC 3 and SFC 1 fought to the bitter end while DTS lost the halfway round encounter against CFC 2. As a result, CFC 3 and 4, DTS and SFC 2 progressed to the Category B semi-finals, while CFC 2 met SKW 1. CFC 1 faced SFC 1 in the category A semi-finals. Later, DTS and CFC 3 moved on to the category B final. “It was an exciting final where neither team was able to break away. Ultimately, DTS asserted itself with a two-point lead and was eventually crowned the Category B winner for the first time,” said Fistball Association of Namibia's media officer, Helmo Minz.
In the match for third position, CFC 4 prevailed against SFC 2. CFC 1 and SKW 1 beat their opponents and advanced to the Category A final. Surprisingly, SFC 1 defeated CFC 2 to secure third place in Category A.
In the finals, rivals SKW 1 and CFC 1 once again battled it out in the Category A final and exhibited high-class fistball. Neither team was able to break away in the first set.
Youngster Karl-Heinz Traut, who moved up to the CFC 1 team, scored with almost every service and kept his team motivated. But in the end, SKW 1 narrowly secured the first set with a tightly contested 15-14 win.
In the second set, SKW 1 was much more consistent and won 11-7. SKW 1 still needed to win a game to walk away with the title, and it looked perfect after a 6-1 and 9-6 lead. However, SKW 1's new signing Kristof Lerch was injured and had to be replaced. CFC 1 explored this weakness and won this set. Cohen 1 also won the fourth set 12-10.
In the final set, it was again CFC 1 who was hungrier for victory and ultimately defended its title after a 3:2 win.
Traut from CFC 1 walked away with the Player of the Day Award after his outstanding performance.
Next up on the fistball calendar is the first round of the Bank Windhoek National Fistball League, scheduled to take place on Saturday, 18 April, at Cohen Fistball Club Sports Grounds in Windhoek.
SPORTS REPORTER
The team retained the tournament trophy after a gripping comeback at the hands of bitter rivals Sport Klub Windhoek (SKW) 1, who took the Category A final match to the wire.
Deutscher Turn und Sportverein (DTS) also put in high performances to win the Category B final for the first time.
In the group and semi-final stages, only eight teams took part: Three from the hosts Swakopmund Fistball Club (SFC), four from CFC and a team representing SKW.
In the group stages, CFC 1, SFC's under-50, SFC 2, DTS and CFC 3 faced each other in group A. As the defending champions, CFC 1 managed to brush aside their competitors, win four fixtures and finish at the top of the group. DTS ended second, followed by CFC's third team, while SFC's over-50 finished at the bottom of the group after losing all its fixtures. SKW 1 defeated CFC 2, SFC 1 and CFC 4 in group B. Backed by home turf advantage, SFC 1 overcame two teams from CFC and finished second in the group. CFC 2 and 4 ended third and fourth respectively.
In the intermediate round, CFC 3 and SFC 1 fought to the bitter end while DTS lost the halfway round encounter against CFC 2. As a result, CFC 3 and 4, DTS and SFC 2 progressed to the Category B semi-finals, while CFC 2 met SKW 1. CFC 1 faced SFC 1 in the category A semi-finals. Later, DTS and CFC 3 moved on to the category B final. “It was an exciting final where neither team was able to break away. Ultimately, DTS asserted itself with a two-point lead and was eventually crowned the Category B winner for the first time,” said Fistball Association of Namibia's media officer, Helmo Minz.
In the match for third position, CFC 4 prevailed against SFC 2. CFC 1 and SKW 1 beat their opponents and advanced to the Category A final. Surprisingly, SFC 1 defeated CFC 2 to secure third place in Category A.
In the finals, rivals SKW 1 and CFC 1 once again battled it out in the Category A final and exhibited high-class fistball. Neither team was able to break away in the first set.
Youngster Karl-Heinz Traut, who moved up to the CFC 1 team, scored with almost every service and kept his team motivated. But in the end, SKW 1 narrowly secured the first set with a tightly contested 15-14 win.
In the second set, SKW 1 was much more consistent and won 11-7. SKW 1 still needed to win a game to walk away with the title, and it looked perfect after a 6-1 and 9-6 lead. However, SKW 1's new signing Kristof Lerch was injured and had to be replaced. CFC 1 explored this weakness and won this set. Cohen 1 also won the fourth set 12-10.
In the final set, it was again CFC 1 who was hungrier for victory and ultimately defended its title after a 3:2 win.
Traut from CFC 1 walked away with the Player of the Day Award after his outstanding performance.
Next up on the fistball calendar is the first round of the Bank Windhoek National Fistball League, scheduled to take place on Saturday, 18 April, at Cohen Fistball Club Sports Grounds in Windhoek.
SPORTS REPORTER
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