Relegation fight to get scrappier

The battle to avoid automatic relegation from the MTC Namibia Premier League (NPL) is set to intensify this weekend as a number of teams at the foot of the table are set to face each other. The biggest of these clashes will take place in Walvis Bay where Blue Waters will be facing their coastal rivals, Eleven Arrows, at the Kuisebmond Stadium tomorrow afternoon. While the tie in itself is always dramatic, the fact that both teams are staring possible relegation in the face means that the match will have even more excitement. “As a derby match, the blood levels will naturally be high,” said Blue Waters’ chief administrator, Paulus Shipanga, who, as a player, took part in many ties between the two teams. “But because Eleven Arrows are just one point ahead of us, winning will become even more important and it will almost be like a cup final,” he adds. Should Waters get that win, they will put some daylight between them and the relegation spots, which will see one team automatically sent to the lower ranks while the other will have to compete in a playoff with three teams from the first division to stay in the NPL. And moving up the log is exactly what Blue Waters will be fighting for, Shipanga continued. “We want to finish the first leg on a good note and what better way to do that than to get the three points? On top of that, the match will also give us an indication as to whether we need reinforcements for the second leg or not,” the former Brave Warriors winger said. Another interesting tie, which can have an effect on both sides of the table, will take place between bottom-of-the-log Rundu Chiefs and table toppers Tigers at the Rundu Sport Stadium. Chiefs are on a good run as they have collected six points from their last three encounters but it remains to be seen if they can continue that against the Shandumbala outfit. The hard-running Tura Magic, meanwhile, are set to host Black Africa at the Sam Nujoma stadium tonight in the first fixture of the latest round in the NPL. Round 11 fixtures Tonight, January 31 Sam Nujoma Stadium 20:00 Tura Magic v Black Africa Saturday, February 1 Rundu Sport Stadium 13:30 Rundu Chiefs v Tigers 16:00 United Stars v Ramblers Vineta Central Stadium 16:00 Blue Boys v African Stars Kuisebmond Stadium 16:00 Blue Waters v Eleven Arrows Sam Nujoma Stadium 16:00 Orlando Pirates v Civics