WINDHOEK: Debmarine Namibia Premiership outfit African Stars secured a 1-0 victory against Township Rollers from Botswana in a friendly match at the Independence Stadium in Windhoek on Saturday.
The Namibian team is currently preparing for the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Champions League preliminary qualifiers against Jwaneng Galaxy.
In a match that was used to refine their tactics before their upcoming CAF qualifier, the two teams played exciting football with the visiting team dominating the first 15 minutes of the first half. But African Stars gained momentum and started to control the game. However, they couldn’t score, and the first half ended goalless.
In the second half, both teams made several squad changes, hoping to score.
The Debmarine Namibia Premiership and Namibia Football Association Cup champions scored 20 minutes into the second half through substitute Reinhardt ||Gaseb. He rebounded a ball that was cleared by the Township Rollers goalkeeper.
With African Stars leading by a s
ingle goal, the Botswana team tried everything to score, but the well-disciplined Stars’ defence kept them at bay. This secured yet another win for African Stars, who have had three wins and one draw since the start of their preseason in July against teams from Botswana and South Africa.
In an interview with Nampa after the match, African Stars head coach Ronny Kanalelo said the match came at a good time as they prepare for the CAF Champions League preliminary match against Jwaneng Galaxy.
‘This was a good game to assess what we have been practising. We tried our level best to allow every player in the squad to play, and the players gave it their all. I am happy with the outcome, but we still have a mountain ahead of us in Botswana where we will be competing in the preliminary qualifiers,’ said Kanalelo.
He added that the team will be travelling to Botswana on Sunday to start their preparation for the first leg of their CAF Champions League Preliminary clash scheduled for 17 September 2024 against Jwaneng
Galaxy, a team that reached the group stages of the CAF Champions League last season.
Source : The Namibia News Agency