Top 8 fever
The maiden edition of the 2018/19 Standard Bank Top 8 Cup will conclude tomorrow with a final between Tigers and African Stars at the Sam Nujoma Stadium.
Tigers head coach Ali Akan says his side is eager to lift the Standard Bank Top 8 Cup trophy, when they play African Stars at the Sam Nujoma Stadium tomorrow.
Akan said the N$500 000 financial incentive for the winner was a sweetener, but that “trophies last longer”.
He said he has been working on the morale of the team since taking over from Peter 'Oubaas' Mokwena and that the players are also working hard.
Stars captain Pat-Nevin Uanivi said they had a positive result against Unam (1-0) on Wednesday in the Namibia Premier League (NPL) and this had boosted the morale of the players.
“We really want to win the cup. This might be the only silverware we will win this season, as one never knows what will happen in the league,” he said.
Uanivi, however, emphasised that Tigers are not a club to be taken lightly.
“They will come at us hard as they too want to win, but from our side, the players are ready and we want to display some great football.”
He further urged fans to come in their numbers and to fill up the stadium.
“Come in your numbers and let's celebrate together,” he said. The tournament, which kicked off in February, featured last season's top eight sides - NPL defending champions African Stars, Black Africa (BA), Mighty Gunners, Unam, Tigers, Tura Magic, Orlando Pirates and Eleven Arrows.
BA, Mighty Gunners, Unam, Magic, Pirates and Eleven Arrows were booted out of the tournament at the quarterfinal and semi-final stages.
Tura Magic and BA are the two semi-final losers and will each take home N$125 000.
The runners-up tomorrow will collect N$250 000. The Top 8 is being sponsored to the tune of N$9 million over three years by Standard Bank.
The outstanding player of the tournament will get N$15 000, the same as the top goal scorer and best coach, while the best goalkeeper and referee will pocket N$10 000 each, with the best-performing assistant referee taking home N$5 000.
For every N$30 ticket sold, N$5 goes towards Standard Bank's Buy-A-Brick initiative, which helps Namibians in the low-to-no-income groups obtain housing through the Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibia.
The match is expected to kick off at 17:00.
NPL action continues
NPL action will still continue on Saturday with Julinho Sporting taking on Eleven Arrows in Rundu at 15:00.
Life Fighters will clash with Tura Magic at 15:00 in Otjiwarongo.
On Sunday, Unam will play Young Brazilians at 14:00 in Windhoek.
Tura Magic and Blue Waters will also cross swords at 15:00 in Windhoek. Orlando Pirates and Mighty Gunners are set to clash at 17:00 at the Sam Nujoma Stadium, followed by a match between Citizens and Okahandja United at 19:00.
LIMBA MUPETAMI
Akan said the N$500 000 financial incentive for the winner was a sweetener, but that “trophies last longer”.
He said he has been working on the morale of the team since taking over from Peter 'Oubaas' Mokwena and that the players are also working hard.
Stars captain Pat-Nevin Uanivi said they had a positive result against Unam (1-0) on Wednesday in the Namibia Premier League (NPL) and this had boosted the morale of the players.
“We really want to win the cup. This might be the only silverware we will win this season, as one never knows what will happen in the league,” he said.
Uanivi, however, emphasised that Tigers are not a club to be taken lightly.
“They will come at us hard as they too want to win, but from our side, the players are ready and we want to display some great football.”
He further urged fans to come in their numbers and to fill up the stadium.
“Come in your numbers and let's celebrate together,” he said. The tournament, which kicked off in February, featured last season's top eight sides - NPL defending champions African Stars, Black Africa (BA), Mighty Gunners, Unam, Tigers, Tura Magic, Orlando Pirates and Eleven Arrows.
BA, Mighty Gunners, Unam, Magic, Pirates and Eleven Arrows were booted out of the tournament at the quarterfinal and semi-final stages.
Tura Magic and BA are the two semi-final losers and will each take home N$125 000.
The runners-up tomorrow will collect N$250 000. The Top 8 is being sponsored to the tune of N$9 million over three years by Standard Bank.
The outstanding player of the tournament will get N$15 000, the same as the top goal scorer and best coach, while the best goalkeeper and referee will pocket N$10 000 each, with the best-performing assistant referee taking home N$5 000.
For every N$30 ticket sold, N$5 goes towards Standard Bank's Buy-A-Brick initiative, which helps Namibians in the low-to-no-income groups obtain housing through the Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibia.
The match is expected to kick off at 17:00.
NPL action continues
NPL action will still continue on Saturday with Julinho Sporting taking on Eleven Arrows in Rundu at 15:00.
Life Fighters will clash with Tura Magic at 15:00 in Otjiwarongo.
On Sunday, Unam will play Young Brazilians at 14:00 in Windhoek.
Tura Magic and Blue Waters will also cross swords at 15:00 in Windhoek. Orlando Pirates and Mighty Gunners are set to clash at 17:00 at the Sam Nujoma Stadium, followed by a match between Citizens and Okahandja United at 19:00.
LIMBA MUPETAMI
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