Namibia: African Stars claim big cash prize after downing Young African in Maris Cup final

Photo Credit: African Stars Soccer Club

Namibia's most dominant club, African Stars SC, added more silverware to their name on Saturday following a 1-0 victory over Young African FC in Namibia's MTC Maris Cup.

The champions of Namibia's last two MTC Premiership titles since a massive reorganization of Namibian domestic league football, African Stars pocketed $1.5 million Namibian dollars ($82,550 USD) with Saturday's victory in a winner-take-all clash. A long distance strike from Namibia national team attacker Willy Stephanus in the first half proved to be the difference on Saturday in Windhoek.

For a club with ambitions of representing Namibia on the big stage of CAF club competitions, the substantial financial award will only help the cause of African Stars. The Maris Cup, making its debut this season to boost interest in Namibia's local football, was contested exclusively by the sixteen teams that make up the MTC Premiership.

African Stars and Young African are currently level on 22 points at the top of the Premiership, which remains tightly contested as it approaches the halfway point of the season.