Teams send out warnings

The Bidvest Namibia Cup is set to take centre stage this weekend with the competition proper taking place in Tsumeb and Windhoek. Having played the preliminaries and all ties now secured, teams in the competition are eager to make their mark. One such team is Oshakati-based Vietnam Rangers, who are set to take on Namibia Premier League (NPL) outfit Blue Waters at the Oscar Norich Stadium in Tsumeb on Sunday. The Oshakati team won the Oshana Second Division (OSD) preliminaries to get to this stage. Incidentally, this will be the third clash between two clubs, who have met in this elite competition in 2008 and 2009. Despite Blue Waters having won both matches, Rangers mentor Jannie Uugwanga told Namibian Sun his team will beat their opponents. “We are ready to face the Walvis Bay team this time around and make sure that we do not disappoint our supporters,” Uugwanga said. “This means a lot to the team to face a club that has a lot of experience. It’s good for our players to be given chances to work harder and make history as a second-division team by beating the NPL outfit.” He added that his team is lucky to have young players to call upon. Last season, Blue Waters reached the round of 16 of the Bidvest Namibia Cup where they were beaten by Tigers. African Stars scalp Meanwhile, Northern Stream First Division (NSFD) outfit Cuca Tops Football Club (FC) have issued a warning to the defending champions of the Bidvest Namibia Cup, African Stars. The two teams will face each other in the first games of the annual competition at the Oscar Norich Stadium in Tsumeb on Saturday. Cuca Tops’ spokesman Peter Nanyemba told Nampa in a telephonic interview that his team has prepared well for the game, and warned that if Stars are not prepared, they will lose points to them. “We have been training very hard for the match, and come Saturday, we are ready to surprise Stars,” he stated. The Rundu-based club’s plan for the competition is to qualify for the next round. Nanyemba said the team only has three senior players; the rest of their players who campaigned for them in the Second Division have so far been doing well at the team. For his part, Stars’ coach Woody Jacobs said the match is not going to be an easy one, but they are ready for their counterparts. “We expect a tough match from Cuca Tops because these guys are playing in the First Division, so they know what they are up for,” he noted. Jacobs wished for cool weather since the teams are due to play at 14:00. Capital action Tsumeb will be hosting ten matches of the last 32 stage of the competition while the rest of the fixtures will take place in the capital. The pick of the matches in Windhoek pits Orlando Pirates against Tura Magic in a game that is expected to bring the house down during Saturday’s action. Magic were in good form during the competition as they knocked out Black Africa in the early rounds of the competition. They would thus like to add a win over one of their Katutura rivals in what is effectively a derby match. Another derby match will pit Civics against Rebels on Sunday as both Khomasdal sides attempt to progress at the expense of the other. Tickets for the matches is set at N$30 and fans may enter a competition that could see them getting a lifetime opportunity to watch English Premier League team, Sunderland live. -Additional reporting by Nampa. Fixtures Tsumeb’s Oscar Norich Stadium Saturday, January 31 10:00 Young Chiefs v Ogongo United 12:00 Oshikoto NamPol v Omaheke NamPol 14:00 Cuca Tops v African Stars 16:00 Tigers v Western Stars 18:00 Shooting Stars v Black Africa 20:00 Citizens v Benfica Sunday, February 1 09:00 Blue Waters v Vietnam Rangers 11:00 Touch & Go v Ohangwena NamPol 13:00 Mighty Gunners v Kangweru Black Tops 15:00 United Stars v Julinho Sporting Windhoek’s Sam Nujoma Stadium Saturday, January 31 15:00 SFC v Real Fighters 17:00 Otjiwarongo FC v Java-Java 19:00 Orlando Pirates v Tura Magic Sunday, February 1 14:00 Eleven Arrows v Pubs 16:00 UNAM v Blue Boys 18:00 Civics v Rebels WINDHOEK-LUKAS NAMBALA