Zebaldt Ngaruka
GOBABIS – The N/a’an ku sê San United sport club in the Omaheke region’s Epukiro constituency aims to take San players’ talent to greater heights.
N/a’an ku sê comprises football and netball teams, established with the aim of promoting San talents.
The club manager, Theo Jazema Tjiseseta, said the aim is to keep San youth busy and away from unwanted activities.
“I am happy to see them taking sport seriously, one can see that they are talented and needed a formation like this to display their talents,” said Tjiseseta. Despite exposing the San’s talent, the team also brought the spirit of togetherness amongst the San community. “The stories of gangsters amongst them are something of the past, and they are now brothers and sisters under one roof,” he said.
Tjiseseta added that the issue of alcohol and drug abuse by San youth is reduced due to their participation in sports. “There is no time to drink tombo or smoke those unwanted things because the youth are mostly exercising. They are very good people to work with, as they are disciplined. Their focus is on sport, that changed the status quo and you will hardly find them hanging in the streets,” explained the manager.
Asked about the challenges the team is facing, Tjiseseta said that both teams need sports gear, including football boots and netball tekkies for ladies.
“We also need balls as these people like training even on their own. We have few balls but the demand is high as we have also U/10 to 13 football teams,” he said.
The manager added that he aims to register the team to compete in the Epukiro Sports Council (ESC) and participate in the regional tournaments as well. “Since this is a marginalised team, it will be a good gesture for ESC to consider them and help in exposing San talent. We will strive for them and create platforms at high levels in the sport.”
Their challenge, as indicated by the manager, is the discrimination the team faces when playing in local competitions.
“This happens mostly when I am not around and that is not acceptable. We are one people and discriminating against the San will kill their morale,” he added.
The publication also caught up with N/a’an ku sê football team captain Isak Langman (26), who has a dream of playing in the premier league. “I am urging other San players to come join the team and display their talent. This is the only San team, we must be proud of it and take it to greater heights,” said the captain who plays as a central midfielder.
He also called on the parents to motivate them to play.
Leta Patuuomasa, the netball team manager, said the San girls have shown great commitment to the team. “I am happy about the changes brought by this team to the San community. We feel part of the community and if we register with ESC, it will be the beginning of glory,” she said.
Initially, the San team was formed in 2012 by volunteer Doctors from the United Kingdom and was revived by Tjiseseta in 2021.