Stars to meet Gunners in Maris Cup last eight

African Stars Football Club became the eighth and last team to secure a place in the quarterfinals of the MTC Maris Cup after beating coastal challengers Blue Boys 3-0 at the Hage Geingob Stadium on Sunday. Rikambura Muundjua, Ronald “Stigga” Ketjijere and Jomo Tjiveta scored for African Stars to secure their qualification.The premier league champions’ focus will now shift to Oshakati this coming weekend, where they will face Mighty Gunners in the last eight of the tournament. The league champions have set their sights on winning the cup and taking the grand prize of N$1,5 million. In his post-match interview, coach Ronny Kanalelo said African Stars controlled the match despite some wrong decision-making and wayward passing.“Our defence didn’t give the opponents much chances to play. We were structured and played more direct than them. We lost some solid players during the off season, but the new combinations are settling well.”Team manager Lesley Kozonguizi said the players will be ready to battle the men in uniform from Otjiwarongo, in what is poised to be an exciting encounter. “First of all, we are proud that the players showed a high level of commitment and determination when we played against Blue Boys on Sunday. “It was a match we had to win and we did execute our mission successfully as we are now in the quarter-final,” he said. Kozonguizi is confident the team will maintain their form as they aim to battle a Gunners team that will carry the expectations of their supporters. Mighty Gunners dramatically proceeded 10-9 from the penalty shoot-out against the unlucky Tigers, after a 2-2 draw. Pitsi Ameb and Shayne van Wyk scored for Tigers, while Petrus Stephanus and Edwin Amakhoeb rounded off goals for Mighty Gunners“We know that knockout tournaments are not easy and we do not expect the next match in Oshakati to be easy at all. “Mighty Gunners are an experienced side with players that also have the determination to win but we will come in the match ready to give them a fight,” the Stars team manager remarked.Fans invitedKozonguizi extended his invitation to the Stars faithful to come in their numbers and fill up the Oshakati Independence Stadium. “We want to thank those supporters that have been following us through it all and we invite them to come and watch us in Oshakati as well.” Big games comingThe quarter-final encounters at Oshakati are expected to create an electric atmosphere as eight of Namibia’s big club teams prepare for battle. FC Ongos has been drawn against an in-form Young African team, while Unam FC is pitted against Blue Waters FC. King Kauluma Palace faces Bucks Buccaneers in a match expected to be a crowd puller, given that Palace hails from the northern part of the country and faces a challenger from the capital.The teams that win their quarter-final matches will advance to the last four of the competition which is slated for Mariental on 14 February.

Stars to meet Gunners in Maris Cup last eight

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Namibian Sun 2025-05-02

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Stars to meet Gunners in Maris Cup last eight

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Namibian Sun 2025-05-02

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