Stars eye another shot
African Stars crashed out of the 2018/19 CAF Champions League competition, after losing by the narrowest of margins against African giants, Orlando Pirates.
Despite suffering a huge disappointment in the second leg of their Confederation of African Football (CAF) Champions League preliminary against Orlando Pirates, African Stars are determined to make their mark in the competition next year.
The Namibian champions lost 0-1 to the Soweto giants from South Africa at the Sam Nujoma Stadium on Saturday.
African Stars midfielder Gift Alpheus Handura has vowed that his team will keep fighting, so they retain their Namibia Premier League (NPL) title and get another shot at the continental club showpiece.
“We really tried our best and we are going to try to do better next year, if we win the league.
“It was never going to be easy, but as a team under a good coach, we did do our best.
“For now we will rest for a bit, before we come back to the premier league,” Handura said.
He further sang the praises of his teammates, who stood their ground against Pirates over two legs.
The teams drew 0-0 in South Africa, before the decisive second leg broke Namibian hearts.
Handura encouraged the players not to “drop their shoulders”, as he believes they will become African sensations in the future.
Stars fell to a Justin Shonga goal in the 55th minute this past Saturday, which was enough to see Pirates into the CAF Champions League group stages.
Pirates started the game on the front foot, pinning Stars into their own half, but failed to create any meaningful chances until the 20th minute when Xola Mlambo had the ball in the back of the net, but was flagged for offside.
Five minutes later, Thembinkosi Lorch hit the side-netting as he dribbled past Ratanda Mbazuvara following a lovely through ball from Shonga.
Stars could not match their more fancied opponents, as the visitors continued to create chances, but Shonga, Augustine Mulenga and Lorch failed to beat local goalkeeper Ratanda Mbazuvara.
However, as the game progressed, Stars created their first real chance when Tjiuana-Tja Tjatindi beat four Pirates players on the right flank, before cutting into his left.
His attempted left-foot shot did not trouble Pirates goalie Jackson Mabokgwane.
On the stroke of halftime, Marshall Munetsi hit a cracking shot that was punched for a corner by Mbazuvara, leaving the two sides 0-0.
The second half started the same way as the first, with Stars finding their backs against the wall and Pirates' strikers failing to capitalise.
Vincent Pule headed wide, before shooting over the bar, while a clever one-two between Shonga and Mulenga saw the latter firing wide in the 52nd minute.
Three minutes later the goal came when Dennis Tjetjinda failed to clear the ball in his own half and Musa Nyatama delivered a pass to Pule who beat Tjatindi for pace before delivering a lovely cross that deceived Mbazuvara.
Shonga hit a first-time volley that was blocked by Ivan Kamberipa, before his second attempt found the back of the net.
The goal seemed to wake up Stars, as they started playing expansive football and caused a few problems for their opponents.
Substitute Aubrey Omseb missed a goal by inches in the 66th minute, from a free-kick, before Kamberipa headed wide from another set-piece.
Gustav Isaak then missed a sitter in the 92nd minute after Omseb beat two defenders on the left and flighted an inviting cross into the box, which fell into his path.
However, his shot went wide, which meant the game ended 1-0 in Pirates' favour.
-Additional reporting by Nampa
Jesse Jackson Kauraisa
The Namibian champions lost 0-1 to the Soweto giants from South Africa at the Sam Nujoma Stadium on Saturday.
African Stars midfielder Gift Alpheus Handura has vowed that his team will keep fighting, so they retain their Namibia Premier League (NPL) title and get another shot at the continental club showpiece.
“We really tried our best and we are going to try to do better next year, if we win the league.
“It was never going to be easy, but as a team under a good coach, we did do our best.
“For now we will rest for a bit, before we come back to the premier league,” Handura said.
He further sang the praises of his teammates, who stood their ground against Pirates over two legs.
The teams drew 0-0 in South Africa, before the decisive second leg broke Namibian hearts.
Handura encouraged the players not to “drop their shoulders”, as he believes they will become African sensations in the future.
Stars fell to a Justin Shonga goal in the 55th minute this past Saturday, which was enough to see Pirates into the CAF Champions League group stages.
Pirates started the game on the front foot, pinning Stars into their own half, but failed to create any meaningful chances until the 20th minute when Xola Mlambo had the ball in the back of the net, but was flagged for offside.
Five minutes later, Thembinkosi Lorch hit the side-netting as he dribbled past Ratanda Mbazuvara following a lovely through ball from Shonga.
Stars could not match their more fancied opponents, as the visitors continued to create chances, but Shonga, Augustine Mulenga and Lorch failed to beat local goalkeeper Ratanda Mbazuvara.
However, as the game progressed, Stars created their first real chance when Tjiuana-Tja Tjatindi beat four Pirates players on the right flank, before cutting into his left.
His attempted left-foot shot did not trouble Pirates goalie Jackson Mabokgwane.
On the stroke of halftime, Marshall Munetsi hit a cracking shot that was punched for a corner by Mbazuvara, leaving the two sides 0-0.
The second half started the same way as the first, with Stars finding their backs against the wall and Pirates' strikers failing to capitalise.
Vincent Pule headed wide, before shooting over the bar, while a clever one-two between Shonga and Mulenga saw the latter firing wide in the 52nd minute.
Three minutes later the goal came when Dennis Tjetjinda failed to clear the ball in his own half and Musa Nyatama delivered a pass to Pule who beat Tjatindi for pace before delivering a lovely cross that deceived Mbazuvara.
Shonga hit a first-time volley that was blocked by Ivan Kamberipa, before his second attempt found the back of the net.
The goal seemed to wake up Stars, as they started playing expansive football and caused a few problems for their opponents.
Substitute Aubrey Omseb missed a goal by inches in the 66th minute, from a free-kick, before Kamberipa headed wide from another set-piece.
Gustav Isaak then missed a sitter in the 92nd minute after Omseb beat two defenders on the left and flighted an inviting cross into the box, which fell into his path.
However, his shot went wide, which meant the game ended 1-0 in Pirates' favour.
-Additional reporting by Nampa
Jesse Jackson Kauraisa
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