The Drawing Board

...Young African, Civics, Blue Waters and Mighty Gunners

The MTC NFA Cup Aweh can now only be won by one of four teams after the quarterfinals were concluded over the weekend.

The result may be well-known by now, but what of the technical details of the different games?

The PlayMaker brings you close to the action and aspires to delve into the inner workings of the different teams.

Various football experts, therefore, endeavoured to bring you the titbits that often go unreported.

Here is a look at how the four fixtures, which took place in Tsumeb and Windhoek, panned out over the weekend.

Quarter Finals Results:

Civics v Khuse FC

Formations: Khuse FC 5-3-2; Civics: 3-5-2;

Final score: Khuse FC 0-3 Civics

Goal scorers: Dynamo Fredericks x2; Salazar Daniel

Key Players: Obrey Amseb, Dynamo Fredericks, Marcel Papama (for Civics); Titus Shelivali, Brian Mentoor, Shema Damaseb (for Khuse FC)

Match summary: This match started at a high pace with good passing and individual play from Civics. Khuse FC also had a few good passages of play as they showed they are eager to compete with their more experienced rivals. But the final pass always seemed to let them down. Civics dominated the game, even though it was a struggle as the heat made it tough for the players. It, nonetheless, was a good game.

The PlayMaker Man of the Match: Dynamo Fredericks (PTSBET Civics)

Tigers v Mighty Gunners

Formations: Tigers: 4-4-2; Mighty Gunners 4-4-2;

Final score: Tigers 1-2 Mighty Gunners

Goal scorers: Ivan Munoko; Pineas Jakob (Mighty Gunners); Johannes Tangi Jackson (Tigers)

Key Players: Patience Gaseb, Moses Lindji; Vernon Classen (for Mighty Gunners); Johannes Tangi Jackson; Marius Kotze, Absalom Iimbondi (for Tigers)

Match summary: Overall not a very exciting game but the goal scorers and their accompanying story lines made it interesting. Forgotten men like former Brave Warriors striker Pineas Jakob and promising talent like Marius Kotze all came to the forefront. But the nature of the game itself left a lot to be desired as there was a lot of kicking the ball aimlessly, while it was hard for both teams to string together more than eight passes during the game. Fitness and the lack of competitive football possibly played a great role in that as both sides wasting several clear-cut chances. In the end, the hungrier team won the game on the back of some clinical finishing from Jakob, who showed the youngsters how it’s done.

The PlayMaker Man of the Match: Johannes Tangi Jackson (Tigers)

Young Brazilians v Blue Waters

Formations: Young Brazilians 4-4-2; Blue Waters 4-3-3

Final score: Young Brazilians 2 (4)- 2 (5) Blue Waters

Goal scorers: Francois Vries x 2 (Young Brazilians); Hendrik Somaeb, Aprocius Petrus (Blue Waters)

Key Players: Revered Matroos; Wayne Esterhuizen, Francois Vries (for Young Brazilians); Hendrik Somaeb, Aprocius Petrus (Blue Waters)

Match summary: The team from Karasburg started like a house on fire and Blue Waters struggled to keep them at bay in the early exchanges. New Brave Warriors call-up Calvyn Spiegel had to be at his best in his attempt to keep Young Brazilians from scoring. Hendrik Somaeb’s experience and individual brilliance allowed the coastal team to go in front, as his unexpected shot fell kindly for Aprocius Petrus to score the opener. Somaeb was then fouled in the penalty area and calmly dusted himself off to slot home and give Blue Waters a 2-0 lead. But Young Brazilians staged quite the comeback as their captain led from the front by scoring two goals. They could have won it towards the end with Wayne Esterhuizen missing a gilt-edged chance. In the end, Blue Waters held their nerve in the lottery of the shootouts to progress to the last four.

The PlayMaker Man of the Match: Francois Vries (Young Brazilians)

Citizens v Young African

Formations: Citizens: 4-2-3-1; Young African: 4-4-2

Final score: Citizens 0-2 Young African

Goal scorers: Konan Kouame, Brian Katuuo

Key Players: Osvaldo Vries (for Citizens); Mata Mbemutjiua, Konan Kouame (for Young African)

Match summary: The ultimate midfield battle took place here as neither team backed down in the heat of action. As a result action took place more in the attacking areas of both sides; an approach that suited Young African. An early goal also let Marley Ngarizemo’s team settle down, while the composure of Mata Mbemutjiua was especially noteworthy as that allowed Young African to keep Citizens at bay. A goal in the second half sealed the deal for Young African. Citizens were left to rue a missed chance from Letu Shatimuene, who couldn’t repeat his heroics from the previous round. Instead, it is Young African that progress with the impact of their substitutes also showing that there is depth in the team.

The PlayMaker Man of the Match: Konan Kouame