NamibiaSport

Siabonga Martins scored five goals as defending champions Unam thrashed Windhoek Old Boys 11-2 in a Men’s Premier League Indoor Hockey match on Saturday. It was Unam’s third consecutive victory in the competition which sees them increasing their lead at the top of the log to five points.

Unam were in a class of their own as Martins turned on the style with some brilliant stickwork and quick counterattacks with his team mates that left WOB playing catch up from the start.

Joseph Kashamako gave Unam an early lead after a fine run by Martins, but WOB soon equalised when Dirk Basson scored from a short corner, slamming the ball high into the net.

Unam however immediately regained the lead when Heini Swartbooi scored after being put clear by Kashamako. Swartbooi and Martins then combined brilliantly for Martins to score his first goal, before Evaristus Kashungu opened his account after receiving a pass from Martins.

WOB could not keep up with Unam’s high tempo game and they went further ahead when Zebald Ndjarakana scored from a short corner.

Martins added his second goal after a fine break, but just before halftime WOB pulled a goal back by Manfred Iyambo after a fine run by Joel Vorster.

Unam step up the pace

Ndjarakana scored his second from a short corner just after the break as Unam stepped up the pace, forcing several successive short corners.
WOB defended well, especially keeper Andrew Main, and it wasn’t until the 33rd minute that Unam’s pressure paid off, as Martins latched onto a throughball and beat Main from close range.

Martins turned on the style with a great solo goal, as he beat two defenders in the box, and although losing his balance, still managed to get a shot in before he fell down. Martins added one more after a throughball from Kashungu, who scored their final goal from a short corner.

It was an emphatic victory for Unam who have dominated the indoor league, winning it for the past eight years in a row and on this performance will be favourites to make it nine in a row.

WOB fielded a young team with several players unavailable, but players like Basson, Vorster and Iyambo showed a lot of promise.

Unam are now well ahead on the log on 12 points from three matches, followed by DTS on seven, Wanderers (5), WOB (1) and the X Team (0).

Unam WOB women drawIn a Women’s Premier League match, WOB and Unam drew 2-all, after a halftime score of 1-all. Mixie van Zyl and Marcia Venter scored for WOB, while Irene Handura and Theodora Amutjira scored for Unam.

Wanderers still lead the Women’s Premier League log with seven points from three matches, followed by the X Team from Walvis Bay on six points, WOB and Unam on two each and DTS who must still open their account.