By Carlos Kambaekwa
WINDHOEK
Barely a week after the country’s football authorities made an announcement that they were locked in negotiations with the Deutsche Fussball Bond (DFB) over the long-awaited appointment of a new technical director, the search is over.
The Namibian Football Association has unveiled little known German national Jochen Figge (in absentia) as the new technical director of Namibian football.
The 62-year old Figge replaces Seth “Mataba” Boois who resigned from his post late last year. He has apparently signed a two-year contract with the NFA with a renewal option for a further two years.
Figge boasts a decorated curriculum vitae stretching from two master degrees in sport/physical education and football instructor up to a professional coaching licence, all acquired in his native country.
He cut his teeth in the German Bundesliga with Werder Bremen and had countless stints with various clubs in the lower divisions as a player before he turned to coaching.
Apart from coaching in domestic leagues in Germany, Figge is no stranger to the national setup after having coached in Zambia, Congo, Botswana, Uganda, Sudan, Romania, Jamaica, Gabon and Ukraine amongst tens of nations where he left his mark.
The NFA’s Beau Kauta emphasized the importance of continuity and said the incoming technical director’s terms of reference are along the same lines as his predecessor’s.
“Seth Boois has done a tremendous job and laid a solid foundation that would allow Figge to pick up the pieces without having to go through the demanding process of putting syllabuses in place – all these things are already functional – so, he just needs to turn the screws.”
Kauta says Figge’s appointment is with immediate effect and his first day at office is subject to the pending approval of his work permit.
The German Football Association through some vigorous lobbying by the NFA president John Muinjo resolved to avail a technical director to the NFA at its own costs.