Katutura giants African Stars were Tuesday night crowned champions of the 2022/23 Debmarine Namibia Premiership after their 3-1 win against Okahandja United at the Sport Klub Windhoek sports ground.

African Stars started the season shooting on all cylinders as they went 22 games without losing a game, and just needed a win against Okahandja United to be crowned champions with four games remaining in this season.

An early goal from the league’s top goal scorer Willy Stephanus set the tone on the night as African Stars dominated play in the first half. Stephanus scored his brace minutes before the halftime break to make it 2-0 at the break.

In the second half, Okahandja United pulled a goal back to keep their hopes of stalling the crowning of Stars as champions alive, but the league winners were on another level on the night as they set their foot down and scored their third goal of the match to keep their dream of competing in the African Champions League alive.

In an interview with the media after the match, team captain Ronald Ketjijere said it has been a long-fought season and it felt great to be crowned champions.

“We had a setback two weeks ago when we lost to Blue Waters, but we spoke to the boys and they understood our mission. Today we came ready and we are now crowned champions,” he said.

Team coach Marvin Mbakera added that being crowned champions shows that the team and management did a very good job throughout the season.

“This is an emotional moment for me as a coach because this is my first title. There are no words that can describe how I feel. I should give gratitude to the Almighty, my wife and my family who were there during all the difficult times when things got hard,” he said.

Mbakera added that the African Stars management and players should also be given credit for setting up a team which dominated play during this season.

“I am happy to say that the management saw the need to bring in a football director who understands football – that made life easier for all of us,” he said, adding that they are now looking forward to competing in the Confederation of African Football Champions League when it kicks off later this year.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency