Namibia: Eleven Arrows, Civics Upset Odds to Reach Cup Final

Sheefeni Nikodemus

9 May 2011

Eleven Arrows and Civics stunned onlookers at the Independence Stadium on Saturday as they knocked out Orlando Pirates and Black Africa respectively to reach the Leo NFA Cup final.

The pair were less fancied to progress but quashed any hopes that sport pundits had of a ‘dream final’ between pre-match favourites Pirates and BA.

Arrows, who had defeated Pirates home and away in the league this campaign, inflicted more misery on the ‘Sea Robbers’ thanks to a solitary headed effort by Zimbabwean import Admire Dzukamanja just before halftime.

Pirates gave an erratic performance and allowed Arrows to dictate an otherwise dull match. Their best effort came from winger Etienne Beukes, when his angled shot was gathered by Arrows captain and goalkeeper Virgil Vries in the second half.

Striker Theofelus Tsowaseb, who had a poor game, also came close but his lob eluded both Vries and the goal posts.

BA’s hopes of emulating African Stars as league and Cup double winners feat of last season came to an abrupt end against a Civics side they had outclassed 3-0 not so long ago. However on Saturday, a reshuffled Civics won 2-1 and played the better football – scoring twice before their opponents replied later on.

BA had the better chances in the first half, however their finishing was poor. However, they came close to opening the scoring through a left-footed curling shot from silky midfielder Willy Stefanus that rattled the crossbar midway through the first-half.

Civics came roaring back in the second-half of the match.

And their captain Heini Isaacs broke the deadlock after 53 minutes following good work on the left wing by Sello Lucky Maselesele, who beat his marker before squaring for Isaacs to guide the ball beyond Arnold Subeb in goal for BA.

The second came from a counter-attack four minutes from time as Samuel Gaogoseb’s firm low shot beat Subeb to effectively end the contest.

BA substitutes Quinton Kuruseb and Romano Engelbrecht combined well in the Civics box with the latter pulling one back deep into stoppage time.

However, Civics held on to reach their second consecutive Cup final.

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