• Sea Water Angling

Arrows, Blue Waters, Citizens and Civics share the spoils

• 2 Years Ago 21 November 2022

The two coastal premier league soccer sides Blue Waters and Eleven Arrows both recorded 1-1 draws against Citizens and Civics on Sunday in Walvis Bay. Blue Waters and Citizens set the pace in the first Debmarine Namibia Premier League soccer clash at Jan Wilken stadium. The opener came early with Willyosn Nghishinawa finding the back of the net for Civics in the 4th minute. Striker Hendrick Somaeb came close to equalising for Blue waters. He was denied by an alerted Citizens keeper Vaitavera Tjatindi. The Citizens keeper were on top of his game and were called into action in quick succession with Blue Waters upping the tempo in search of the equaliser. The Blue Waters defender Hanganeni Negwila send his shot over the crossbar in the 45th minute with an open goalmouth at his disposal. When play resumed after the break, Blue Waters striker Erastus Kulula missed a chance created by Sem Ndahangwapo. Tempers flared and the tackles made became an issue of concern for referee who dished out 12 yellow cards in the second half. Blue Waters midfielder Pandeni Kandjabanga had the Citizens goalie beaten with a long range effort but his shot struck the crossbar and Ndahangwapo rushed his effort and blasted wide. Tjatindi continued to make some crucial saves between the sticks. Blue Waters striker Erastus Kulula broke into the box only to be denied by the Citizens keeper. Moments after having had his attempt blocked, Hidulika Ihepavali made sure to put the ball in the back of the net when another came his way in the 80th minute. Valton Van Staden also came close for Blue Waters with a free kick attempt which sailed narrowly wide. Blue Waters had to make do with 10 men when defender Abubakir Arend were red carded by referee Samuel Nghipandulwa for a dangerous tackle. The Blue Waters captain Gregory Aukumeb was also yellow carded for remonstrating with the referee. The Blue Waters defender Johannes Nambuli guided his header inches wide in the dying moments of the match. “We created over ten chances and missed a lot of scoring opportunities. They created one chance in the 4ht minute and capitalised. We will work on this at training. Ndahangwapo played a storming game for us,’ said coach Lucky Shipanga after the match. Citizens coach Marcello Wakadumo said he was happy but not content with the draw. “We came far and collecting a point at the coast is a blessing. Football is a collective effort. All my players performed well and fought until the very end. They contained Blue Waters and were made to pay for briefly losing concentration.” Eleven Arrows vs Civics Petrus Ilonga scored the opener in the 34th minute for Arrows. Civics were all over Arrows for much of the first half but the Arrows defense were rock solid and absorbed the pressure. The Citizens defender Hosea Nankambe, came close but miss directed his header. The match became a pacey affair in the second half. Dantago Kuruseb bended a freekick around the wall and hit the back of the net for Civics in the 50th minute. Both teams went in search and launched concerted efforts to score the winning goal. Llewellyn Stanley could have won it for Civics but he misguide his shot over the crossbar in the 60th minute. Referee Fillipus Nghilipingunye showed a yellow card to the Arrows captain Johannes Mutanga for remonstrating. Arrows midfielder Parick #Naweb failed to connect properly with an incoming cross in the 80th minute while the Civics defense rushed in and successfully cleared a Haufiku Tangos shot from the goal line. Arrows cornered Civics and had a goal by Anthony Kham ruled offside in the dying moments of the game. “A draw is an accepted award for us. We were unlucky against Blue Waters yesterday and should have killed the game in the first half. An unfortunate mistake counted against us. We will now focus on getting things right against Life Fighters and Julinho Sporting in Windhoek,” said Civics coach Jeremy Zimmer after the match. The Arrows coach Paulus Shipanga said his side could have won the game. “It was a tough match and the result reflects that. The players tried hard but will have to work harder. My captain Johannes Mutanga and the two centre backs Algreen Uaseua and Luciano Fisher played their hearts out.” Shipanga invited all coastal fans to come up in numbers for the next round of matches against Black Africa and Young African at Jan Wilken stadium in Walvis Bay.