Ntunguru FC poised to make history

Musa Zimunya

SHINYUNGWE, AUG. 17 – The adage “Diamond in the rough” could knot be more fitting when describing Ntunguru football club. The “rural” team has come from the basement of Namibian football and is now two games away from plying its trade in the upper echelons of the country’s soccer sphere.

Ntunguru hails from Shinyungwe village in the Ndiyona constituency of Kavango East, and tomorrow, it will face off against Julihno FC at Rundu sports stadium in the beginning of a do or die play-off clash for promotion to Namibian top-flight football.

All hopes of making the giant leap toward the Namibia Premier League (NPL) will be pinned on top goal scorer and in-form striker Patric “Oukocha” Shiputa, while experienced captain Frans “Pienaar” Ndara will be aiming to steer his charges toward victory. Immanuel “Pule” Munango and play maker Anton Mata will also have to be at their best and dominate the midfield midfield battle, as they come up against Julihno’s tricky players.

Ntunguru FC in their away kit. The team from the village is seeking to go down in the annuls of Namibian football history as the first village-based team to earn promotion into Namibian top-flight football

According to Rudolph Mupiri Shaya, Chairperson of Northern Stream First Division, both home and away games will be played this weekend.

“The first game will be played in Rundu tomorrow (Saturday), while the final game will be played at John Mutorwa stadium: Ntunguru’s home ground.”

Christoph Mangundu, the coach of “Mundiro wakudira kudima” – the term endearing supporters refer to Ntunguru that means: “forever burning” –  said his fearless charges are ready to defeat Julihno FC and re-write the annuls of Namibian football to be the first rural team to ascend into the NPL.

Key play-maker Marungu Aguero will be deployed as a defender in an attempt to stunt Julinho’s strikeforce and roam in front of goalkeeper Richard Mukuve who will certainly be in for a busy shift this weekend.

Ntunguru FC arrived in Rundu this morning, with die-hard supporters Dianna and Notty in tow.

On Sunday they play final play-off game at John Mutorwa sport stadium in Shinyungwe. – musa@namibiadailynews.info