Citizens football club can cap a period of great success with an appearance in the final of domestic football’s premier knockout tournament when they take on United Stars tomorrow. The team, which recently won promotion to the MTC Namibia Premier League (NPL) after winning the Southern Stream First Division (SSFD), will now attempt to go one better by overcoming Stars in the semi-finals of the Bidvest Namibia Cup; a match that is set to take place at 15:00 at the Sam Nujoma Stadium. Previously known as Monitronics, the Windhoek based team will hope to use the fact that they will be playing at a familiar venue to their advantage. In addition to that, the team boasts some experienced campaigners like defender Robert Gurirab, midfield ace Berries Rooi and striker Henry ‘Tsiki’ Somseb with the latter duo having played in the NPL before. But it is arguably the form of Zimbabwean playmaker, Ronald Chari that will ultimately determine if Citizens will get a place in the final of the ‘Cup of Dreams’ as some have come to dub the tournament. Chari has proven to be both industrious and effective as an attacking tool for the team as almost every forward Citizens move involves him. The team’s coach, George Ochurub is excited about the prospect of playing in a major final. “We have nothing to lose,” he told nfa.org.na yesterday. “This is our best chance of reaching a final, our first final of this magnitude… “This is the ‘Cup of Dreams’ and… we dream of the final appearance and come Saturday, United Stars will face a determined side,” he added. But while Citizens may be confident, it will not all be plain sailing as they will face a United Stars team that is full of running and equally determined to reach the final having lost out at the same stage last year. This tie will be the first of two semi-finals matches to be played at the venue with Tura Magic set to face African Stars in the late kickoff (17:00). In the previous round, Magic won 2-1 to sent Black Africa tumbling out of the tournament while ‘Stalile’ left it late before dispatching Mountain Rangers 6-2. Fun for fans The organisers’ of the tournament, meanwhile, have gone the extra mile to ensure that tomorrow’s event is not only enjoyable but also great fun. Bidvest Namibia’s Director of Commercial and Business Development Theo Mberirua expressed excitement about the upcoming matches. “After months of excitement and some super [football] we are now in the final stages of the cup and the semi-finals this weekend are sure to get the heart’s pumping of all Namibian soccer fans,” he said in a statement. Mberirua went on to remind fans that they stand a great chance of winning some extra cash with Bidvest in the “Selfie”-competition. “N$500 is up for grabs,” he said before explaining that in order to take part fans have to “take a fun and creative selfie while wearing Bidvest Namibia Cup regalia” at tomorrow’s matches. “[Fans must then] WhatsApp the selfie to 081 692 3997. The judges will then choose the winners,” he said. Other fun activities planned for tomorrow’s games are branded giveaways for the first 300 supporters at the gate, while two fans stand a chance of having their tickets upgraded to VIP passes. Aspiring footballers and ardent fans can further win some extra prizes in the soccer fan ‘Goal-Score' challenge during half-time. WINDHOEK-HECTOR MAWONGA
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