Stars lift Top 8 trophy

Stars lift Top 8 trophyTwo spectacular goals end Tigers’ challenge African Stars supporters were sent into ecstasy on Saturday, after their team trumped Tigers in the Top 8 Cup final. LIMBA MUPETAMI

African Stars clinched the Standard Bank Top 8 Cup trophy after defeating Tigers 2-0 in front of a packed Sam Nujoma Stadium on Saturday.

African Stars may have missed out on the chance to lift the 2018/19 Namibia Premier League (NPL) trophy, but they have made amends by winning the Standard Bank Top 8 Cup.

Stars ended their season on a high and gave their fans just the right medicine after missing out on the league title.

Their win over Tigers on Saturday did not come easy, as the opposition gave them a run for their money.

However, it was Gustav Isaaks well-slotted free-kick after midfield maestro Ambrosias Amseb was fouled at the edge of the penalty area in the first half that switched the match around.

Tigers’ goalkeeper David Peterson was at full stretch, but the ball was already in the back of the net, sending the Stars fans into ecstasy.

Many more chances came from both sides before the first half ended. In the second half Tigers had a clear goal ruled out by the linesman because of offside.

There was huge protests from of the Tigers bench, but the referee stuck to his decision.

Ten minutes before the end of the match Stars strucked again through Crispin Mbewe. From then onwards there was no coming back for Shandumbala outfit, Tigers.

“It was a tough match. We knew Tigers would come at us. They are a good team and they played very well, especially in the second half,” said Pat-Neville Uanivi, the captain of African Stars.

Tigers captain Absalom Iimbondi was not pleased about the disallowed goal. “We played a great match but I still have questions about the disallowed goal. But overall I’m happy with the performance of the team,” he said.

The prize-giving ceremony was flooded by Stars players who dominated the individual prizes. Head coach Bobby Samaria led by example as he was voted best coach of the series. Amseb was voted player of the series, while Ratanda Mbazuvara was won the outstanding goalkeeper prize and player of the match.

The top scorer award shared by Mbewe, Llewelyn Stanley from Tigers and Tura Magic's Salomon Omseb.

African Stars walked away with N$500 000, while Tigers took home N$250 000.