With close to a third of the Debmarine Namibia Premiership completed, three teams have emerged as the early contenders for the league title, while Blue Waters are in hot pursuit in fourth place.
FC Ongos regained the lead on 22 points from nine matches, after two victories on the road, while African Stars also collected maximum points to close in on the leaders, moving on to 20 points in third place.
Former leaders Khomas Nampol dropped down to second position on 21 points, following a win against Okahandja United and a defeat to Blue Waters, while the coastal side stayed in touch with the leaders, in fourth place on 18 points.
FC Ongos had a successful weekend after picking up two victories in central and northern Namibia.
On Saturday, they beat Mighty Gunners 4-2 at the Mokati Stadium in Otjiwarongo, after pulling away in the second half.
The score was still level at one-all by halftime after an own goal on either side, but two goals by Ongos captain Junias Theophilus and another by Simon Elago saw them running out comfortable winners.
They then travelled about 500km north to Oshakati to take on Eeshoke Chula Chula the next day, and once again took the spoils after Wangu Gome scored the winning goal with about 15 minutes to go.
That put them on top ofthe log, but coach Paulus Shipanga said it came with a lot of pressure.
“It’s good to be at the top of the log, but it comes with a lot of pressure, and I would have preferred to be second or third – we will rather chase than be chased,” he said.
“We will just take it one game at a time, it’s still early days, and we don’t want to build too high expectations,” he added.
That put them on top of the log, ahead of Khomas Nampol, who only collected three points in a 4-0 win against Okahandja United on Saturday.
After a goalless first half, Khomas Nampol upped the tempo with their powerful striker George Frans scoring a brace and then providing the third goal for Rewaldo Prins, before Absalom Iimbondi sealed their victory after scoring from a swift counter-attack.
It was a statement win by Khomas Nampol, who are holding their own in the top flight after being promoted, but the next day they were brought back down to earth after a 2-1 defeat to Blue Waters.
Sam Ndahangwapo gave the coastal side an early lead, while Naftali Dausab made it 2-0 just before the break.
Nampol’s new signing Revered Matroos pulled a goal back with a great shot early in the second half, but Blue Waters held on for the win. That was their second victory of the weekend after they beat Young Brazilians 1-0 in Keetmanshoop on Saturday, with Ndahangwapo scoring the winner in the second half.
African Stars also had a rich haul, collecting maximum points against Julinho at Rundu and Okakarara Young Warriors at Grootfontein.
Their discarded national striker Willy Stephanus was once again in sparkling form, scoring five of their six goals over the weekend.
On Saturday he scored two in their 3-0 win against Julinho, with Gianluca Kahingunga adding a third; and capped that off with a hattrick in a 4-2 win against Okakarara Young Warriors on Sunday, with Uetuuru Kambato adding a fourth goal.
Tigers also had a successful weekend, beating Life Fighters 3-0 on Saturday and Unam 1-0 on Sunday, to move up to sixth position on the log, but Otjiwarongo-based Mighty Gunners and Life Fighters both lost their matches, with Fighters now still winless and at the bottom of the log on four points.
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