Admittedly, many are unaware that the just-departed, dreadlocked goal-poacher ‘Kaskas’ Angula was a ‘Struggle Kid’ in the usual Namibian term – albeit a rather ‘well-behaved’ one. 

The deadly net-buster developed vast interest in politics at an early age, abandoning his motherland aged 14, hardly out of his pair of shorts. 

Angula went into exile to further his academic aspirations – only to resurface in Lubango, southern Angola, in 1988. His abbreviated exiled journey saw him shuttling between Angola and Zambia before ending up in Congo Brazzaville, squatting in designated transit camps for juvenile refugees. 

In an exclusive interview with New Era Sports in 2019, the much-adored, humorous Rastaman relived his long and winding football journey that saw him feature for three top clubs in the country’s flagship league, and how he singlehandedly rescued parent team Oshakati City from the dreaded relegation axe.

Born Fillemon Kalutenda Angula in Swakopmund on 20 August 1973, famously known as ‘Kaskas’, the football-crazy Rastaman was a diehard fan of Mondesa outfit Blue Boys. 

Regrettably, he was too young to make his bow for his boyhood team by the time he was relocated to Onathinge village in the Oshikoto region. 

Nonetheless, he was already playing street football when he exchanged the cold breezing weather of the Atlantic Ocean for the searing heat of the Oshikoto region. 

“I was in standard five (grade 7). There were no proper football structures in place, let alone established football clubs. We only played football at the school level amongst ourselves, and often against other schools from adjacent villages. For some strange reasons, I happened to start developing a keen interest in politics, and could no longer stomach the discriminatory Bantu Education System, brutally imposed on us by the South African Apartheid regime,” he shared in 2019.

Upon arrival in Lubango, he was placed in the refugee camp for in-transit juveniles. To keep busy, he played football with fellow young refugees whilst waiting for further placements. 

“After a while, we were shipped to the Angolan capital Luanda, before being transferred to Lusaka, Zambia, only to end up in Congo-Brazzaville. Football always formed part of our daily diet during those foreign shuffles.”

Strangely, his homecoming was delayed, as the dreadlocked striker only came back to his native land in 1991 – a year after Namibia gained democracy. 

Still determined to equip himself with a decent education, he enrolled at the Mweshipandeka Secondary School near Ongwediva in the Oshana region to further his academic aspirations.

It was while playing for the school team that the free-scoring attacking midfielder attracted the attention of talent scouts from Oshakati outfit Young Chiefs. However, he found a new shelter when he joined forces with old-time campaigners, in Oshakati City, in 1992.

In-between, he enjoyed brief stints with Ondangwa outfit Oluno Santos (Volcano) and Oniipa United in the regional lower-tier leagues. The much-adored goal-poacher played an instrumental role when Oshakati City was promoted to the country’s elite league in 1997.

He represented Namibia at U/23 age groups with the national Olympic team before making his bow for the national senior team against Lesotho in an international friendly in 1996. 

Famously known for his traditional aerial power, which culminated in devastating bullet-headed goals, he was a proven goal-scorer of note. 

The departed football icon always registered his name on the score-sheet from acute angles, scoring more career goals with his head than his equally-dangerous dazzling feet. The lankly forward netted his first international goal in the 1-all draw against the visiting Angola at Windhoek’s Independence Stadium in 1998.

Like other dozens of great athletes, Angula was in high demand, and finally succumbed to persistent advances from the top guns. He exchanged the red and white strip of Oshakati City for the foam and deep-blue sea strip of ‘Omeva’ (Blue Waters). 

Unfortunately, the usual football politics that has become the hallmark of domestic football halted his joy of playing for one of the finest football entities in the business.

His next stop was the ‘city of bright lights’ (Windhoek). 

Angula joined the ambitious Khomasdal youthful outfit Civics FC under the new ownership of the football-crazy Austrian migrant Helmut Scharnowsky. He was a vital cog in the Civilians’ newly-acquired drive for supremacy in the domestic league, winning several accolades with the resurgent Civilians. 

Gold medal in the prestigious Namibia Football Association Cup, tailed by runner-up spot in the inaugural season of the NPL X-Mas Cup, in addition to representing the Mighty Civilians in the continental club cup championship against PSL giants Supersport United. 

“We narrowly lost by a solitary goal against SuperSport in the decisive return leg in Windhoek, but that particular match will remain entrenched in my memory. It was the same day when my beloved mother passed away, far away from where I was stationed at the time. I kept the news of my mother’s passing away from my teammates, as I didn’t want to disturb the mood in the dressing room. I only broke the sad news to my teammates after the match,” he added in the interview.

As fate dictated, things started to fall apart back home, with his parent club Oshakati City struggling to make ends meet in the league, facing the dreaded relegation axe in the face. City turned to their trusted target Rastaman for divine intervention.

After a fatherly man-to-man talk with club honcho Scharnowsky, the kind-hearted generous Austrian national freed Angula, giving his blessings for the deadly striker to return to City. 

“When I arrived at City for my second homecoming, the team was lingering dangerously in the relegation zone, mired at the bottom of the NPL log standings with very little hope for survival. 

“Miraculously, we managed to weather the storm against all odds – and in the end, escaped relegation by the skin of our teeth on the final day of league activities,” he said.

After a few more seasons with mid-table City, the inspirational skipper hung up his boots while still at the pinnacle of his blossoming football career. 

Unlike many great athletes whose careers are cut generally short by career-ending injuries, the prodigal son’s premature retirement from playing competitive football was by his own choice. 

“It was my own decision, because most of the youngsters were reluctant to come out of their shells unleashing their full potential because of my presence in the squad. I wanted to pave the way for new blood to come on board and take over the baton.”

Upon retirement, the now-departed, dreadlocked midfielder-cum-striker ventured into the dog-eat-dog industry of coaching.

 Sadly, he had a turbulent short-lived stint with premiership debutants Young Chiefs, before the two parties parted ways in acrimonious fashion. 

He leaves behind his beautiful spouse Lempie Mwatala and five children: a pair of sons Leroy and Fillemon ‘Kaskas’ Jnr, and a trio of Evas in the following sequence: Naomi Lensie, Lempie Ndinelago and Annah Angula.