Pirates’ relegation battle intensifies after draw against Life Fighters

WINDHOEK, 08 APR – Katutura-based Namibia Premier League (NPL) outfit Orlando Pirates did not do themselves any favours when they drew 1-1 in their must-win game against Otjiwarongo’s Life Fighters on Saturday.
With only four games left to play in the 2017/18 NPL season, Pirates are just two points away from the last relegation spot currently occupied by Young Chiefs, who are on 27 points.
In their clash against Life Fighters at the Sam Nujoma Stadium, the Katutura giants struggled to find the back of the net.
It was Life Fighters who opened the scoring after a Pirates defender controlled a ball with his hand just 25 metres from their goalpost. A brilliantly taken free-kick in the 33rd minute of the game had Ndjiraeree Maharero opening the scoring for the visitors.
The half-time score was 1-0.
In the second half, Life Fighters continued where they left off, dominating play in the opening five minutes of the match, but Pirates put their foot down and managed to find an equaliser in the 55th minute with a brilliant shot from outside the box by Terdius Uiseb which left the helpless Life Fighters goalkeeper Paulus Abel with no choice.
With the game levelled at one, both teams played technical football, allowing little room for errors and forcing the game to end one-all.
Life Fighters are now ninth on the log, level on 33 points with Blue Waters who are eighth on the log standings.
For Pirates to survive relegation, they need at least two wins from their remaining four matches to avoid being overtaken by teams below them on the log standing.
Other results on Saturday saw Rundu Chiefs thrashed 4-1 by Mighty Gunners in Otjiwarongo, while Young Chiefs beat another relegation-fighting club, Santos, 2-0 in Oshakati.
In Walvis Bay the two coastal outfits Blue Waters and Eleven Arrows drew 1-1, while in Gobabis Black Africa lost two more points in their fight to catch up with current log leaders African Stars when they drew 1-1 against Young African.
Stars are top of the log on 55 points, while Black Africa are second with 48 points.
In the last game played at the Sam Nujoma Stadium, Tigers beat Tura Magic 3-0 to move to third place on the log standing with 43 points, while Tura Magic are now in seventh position with 42 points.

NAMPA