Southern Stream title race wide open
The Southern Stream First Division is heading for an exciting climax with several clubs still in the running to win the league and gain promotion to the Debmarine Namibia Premiership.
Log leaders Blue Birds could only pick up one point out of a possible six over the weekend, and although they still lead the log, several other teams are now suddenly back in the title race.
On Saturday, Blue Birds drew 1-1 against bottom-of-the-log Black Africa, before losing 4-2 to Ramblers on Sunday.
In a fiery match that saw four Ramblers and two Blue Birds players picking up yellow cards, Ramblers took an early lead through captain Xavier McClune, but Blue Birds soon equalised through Hidulika Ihepavali and took the lead through Naftal Dausab just before halftime.
Ramblers, however, produced a strong comeback after the break, equalising through Vincent Pack and then taking a 3-2 lead when Nghidipohamba Nghimwayta finished off a quick counter-attack.
Mark Mahundu secured their victory with a powerful header from a corner to complete an impressive win.
Despite their meagre pickings, Blue Birds remain at the top of the log, after their closest rivals Friends and Eleven Arrows also dropped points.
Friends lost 4-1 to Dates Eleven on Saturday but managed to turn their fortunes around with a 3-0 win against Oranjemund on Sunday, while Arrows drew 1-1 against Ramblers on Saturday before beating Black Africa 2-0 on Sunday.
Blue Birds now lead the log on 33 points from 15 matches, followed by Friends on 30 points from 16 matches, and Arrows on 29 points from 15 matches.
Dates Eleven (25 points from 15 matches), Try Again (24 points from 14 matches) and Mariental Sport Club (21 points from 13 matches) are also mathematically still in the running to win the title, although their chances are quite slim.
Besides their 4-1 win against Friends, Date Eleven also drew 3-3 against Latinos; while Mariental beat Orlando Pirates 2-0, and Try Again beat Pirates 3-1.
Ramblers’ four points saw them moving up to seventh position on the log on 21 points, but former Namibian powerhouses Orlando Pirates and Black Africa are both struggling to make a mark in the SSFD.
Pirates dropped down to eighth position on 19 points, while Black Africa bottom of the log on seven points and in real danger of being relegated.
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