UNAM, Stars book places for Debmarine Namibia Cup final

WINDHOEK, 13 MAY  – The University of Namibia (UNAM) Football Club and African Stars booked their places in the 2018 Debmarine Namibia Cup final after defeating Black Africa (BA) and Civics respectively in the semifinals played on Saturday at the Sam Nujoma Stadium.
UNAM’s Bornface Siyanga missed a penalty in the first half before falling behind when BA substitute McCartney Nawaseb broke the deadlock with a fine finish from close range.
Tara Katupose then headed UNAM back into the game and took the game to extra time.
Both teams failed to find the back of the net in extra time and dreaded spot kicks came into action to decide the winner.
Emilio Martin, Derl Goagoseb and Wendell Rudath scored for BA, but Vitapi Ngaruka missed his penalty.
For UNAM, captain Heinrich Isaacks, Veno Tjikundi, Marcel Papama, Lebbeus Mwatilefu and Katupose scored to take their team to their first-ever domestic cup final.
Papama was named Man of the Match.
In the second match, African Stars and Civics displayed exciting football which had the crowd on their feet for 120 minutes.
Stars went ahead in the seventh minute through Edwin Korukuve after a misunderstanding between Civics goalkeeper Edward Maova and Tobias Uushona.
Civics equalised through Ngunzu Salazar in the 20th minute after Donald Geiseb had his shot parried back into play by Ratanda Mbazuvara in goals for Stars.
Both teams had chances to win the game in regular time, but none managed until the final two minutes of added time.
Stars won a corner kick which Maova failed to deal with effectively, and it fell into the path of Ronald Ketjijere.
The Brave Warriors captain slammed his shot against the cross bar but it bounced off the back of a Civics defender and into the net to break the hearts of their friends.
It was a blow for Civics who had dominated their more fancied opponents with Captain Peter Steven, who was surprisingly not ignored for the Man of the Match award, leading from the back.
For Stars the dream of completing a double lives on as they tackle UNAM in the final on 19 May at a venue still to be announced.
Stars won the 2017/18 Namibia Premier League recently.

NAMPA