Erasmus Shalihaxwe
After securing maximum points in two away games over the weekend, newly promoted King Kaluma Palace Football Club (KK Palace FC) is confident about retaining their spot in the Debmarine Premier League by the end of the season.
On Saturday, KK Palace defeated Mighty Gunners 2-1 at Otjiwarongo, followed by a 1-0 victory over Okahandja United in Okahandja.
These back-to-back wins lifted the team from the relegation zone to 11th place on the log with nine points from eight matches.
Head coach Anderson Phiri said the team had to make significant adjustments after a challenging start to the season, which included three draws and three losses in their first six games.
‘’Everything in life has time, because after we analysed our previous performance and worked out a plan that can give us results, it is now bearing fruit, and this is now our time to get the results we want,’’ said Phiri.
He expressed confidence in the team’s ability to stay in the league despite their recent promotion.
‘’I can’t really tell you that we are going to win the league or we will finish at a certain position in the log, but what I can assure you is that we will not be relegated,’’ boosted Phiri.
The team’s marketing executive, Ounot Shikongo, highlighted the financial challenges of competing in the premier league without a sponsor.
He explained that the costs of travelling to different towns, accommodation, and providing proper meals for players are currently being met through community support.
‘’We don’t have a sponsor, and we are appealing to corporate organisations and anybody out there to assist us with anything they can,’’ appealed Shikongo.
He added that the team trains on a gravel field at Andimba Toivo ya Toivo Secondary School in Oluno and called on supporters to help improve the field conditions.
KK Palace is the second team based in the northern region of Namibia to play in the premier league, following Eeshoke Chula Chula, who are now in their second season.
Eeshoke Chula Chula currently sits in 9th place on the log with 11 points from nine games, having won two, lost two, and drawn five.
