NFA Cup: The heat is on

LIMBA MUPETAMIWINDHOEKThe MTC Namibia Football Association (NFA) Cup is entering the final straight on Saturday with Walvis Bay outfit Blue Waters slotted to go up against Civics at 14:00, after which Otjiwarongo-based Namibia Defence Force outfit Mighty Gunners will take on Young African at 16:00.Blue Waters coach Paulus said Civics are a tough team. “They are very tricky opponents; you don’t know what they will bring to the table. They are a passing team, not so much a running team. We are ready, the players know the importance of this match. We hope for nothing but the best for Saturday’s encounter,” he added.Gunners coach Gerhardt Hengari said his troops are ready to rumble. “We have been preparing for this match with clear objectives and since the round of 32 we set a winning goal,” said Hengari.“We have the experience and the right mentality right now to go all the way. We know it won’t be easy against a young and fierce side who will be at home but we’ve been here before and have done our homework,” Hengari said.On the other hand, Mali Ngarizemo, coach of Young African, said they are ready to give the Gunners a run for their money.“We have very young and inexperienced players compared to the last time we played them in the final, so we will go into the match as underdogs.“They are a big team but we will try to get through to the final. They are the favourites, so they must perform on the day.“We have no home-ground advantage to really celebrate because when we play at home, at times players don't cope with that pressure and it’s not easy, but Gunners as a state team have all the resources everywhere so they are in a better position than us,” added Ngarizemo.After Gobabis, all roads will lead to Swakopmund’s Vineta Stadium for the final on Saturday, 23 October.The losing semi-finalists will play the second match of the day for third and fourth place. An exhibition match between the MTC Team and the Media Team will open the programme on the day in the build-up to the grand finale.Apart from the team prizes, four individual awards will be handed out: player of the series; goalkeeper of the series; top goal scorer and the referee of the series.So far Gunners hitman Asser Hara-Amseb leads the goal-scorer chart with seven goals - four scored in the round of 32 and three in the round of 16. He is followed by already eliminated Citizens’ Lazarus Naruseb on four goals.The winning team of the tournament will walk away with N$500 000 and the runners-up will take N$250 000, while the third and fourth place will receive N$150 000 and N$100 000 respectively.MTC are the sponsors of the competition with N$4.5 million annually for the next three years.

NFA Cup: The heat is on

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Namibian Sun 2025-09-17

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NFA Cup: The heat is on

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Namibian Sun 2025-09-17

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