By Carlos ‘CK’ Kambaekwa
WALVIS-BAY – The nucleus of Eleven Arrows in its formative years was doubtlessly the defected players from Blue Waters spearheaded by the sharp shooting Gabes “Flying Fish” Mupupa, Heinrich Horongo Haufiku and Thomas Tommy Ushona.
Add the flair of young Linus “Bossie” Samaria (Bobby’s old man) dribbling wizard Nangi “Watch” Nickel and the cohesive defensive display of Oom Reinhard Gaseb, Lazarus Shikwambi and the hardworking midfield anchorman Jack Brown and you have a complete football unit.
Arrows’ arrival on the local football scene brought the dominance of both Blue Waters and Namib Woestyn to a premature end as the gold and maroon outfit captured the imagination of football fans around the country with their flawless straightforward passing game.
Arrows were the epitome of one touch football while burly striker Flying Fish became the envy of every football-loving follower as he left many shot stoppers with fractured fingers with his canon-like shots from long range.
The likes of Abel Nero, Nandos Mbako, Jeremiah Hochobeb, Ripuree Hoveka, Eddie Cloete and others would always despise the mere opportunity of coming face to face with the gentle giant.
In Nangi Nickel, Arrows had arguably one of the finest and most gifted footballers this country has ever produced.
The Tsumeb-born lad had the rare ability to bamboozle opposing robust defenders with his unorthodox dribbling style and is ranked amongst the best ball dribblers in the business that could only be equalled by Timo Mwetuyela, Petrus “/Nerab” Gariseb, Dale Stephanus and the late Orlando Pirates slippery winger Norbertus “Norries” Goraseb.
The dangerous combination of Tommy Ushona, Flying Fish Mupupa and young Bossie Samaria proved a thorn in the flesh of many defenders. Fearless Orlando Pirates robust fullback Isaak “Whoops” Gariseb and the equally tough tackling Namib Woestyn’s Lala Lombard always found the going tough against Arrows’ striking force.
As the old guard fazed out, Arrows’ fortunes waned significantly until the arrival of the club’s golden generation under the stewardship of speedy winger Eliphas “Safile” Shivute, midfield genius Ben Gonteb and Ronnie Kanalelo.
The likes of Julius “Sono” Shivute, Sadike Gottlieb, Munjanda Muaine, Peter Uiseb, Sparks Gottlieb, Temu Samaria, Ben Gonteb, Stroh Naruseb, enterprising skillful winger Shaya Mwelasi, Stakes Louw, Kiki Gaseb, Bobby Samaria, Abraham Shikololo, Denina Nakafila, Dale Mutilifa, Merino Muvangua, youngsters Pule Tjombe and Kondjeni Tjilale all flourished and went on to become household names under the astute mentorship of former Black Africa midfield general Albert “Boetie” Louw.
Arrows surprised friend and foe when they sent traditional rivals Blue Waters packing with their tails firmly tucked between their legs in an exciting final of the now defunct JPS Cup in a live televised match at the packed to the rafters Kuisebmond Stadium in Walvis Bay in 1987.
The club went on to produce great players in the mould of Rudolf “Magic Feet” Bester, Jason “Khumalo” Petrus, Virgil Vries, Chris Katjiukua and many others who went on to make a name for themselves in the paid ranks beyond Namibian borders but none other stood out than Eliphas Shivute and acrobatic giant shot stopper Ronnie “Magnet” Kanalelo.
Shivute enjoyed a successful but somewhat abbreviated stint with Scottish giants Motherwell in the Scottish Premiership after his splendid display in the 1998 Afcon finals in Burkina Faso where he tormented and tore apart the much-fancied Ivorian rearguard with amazing pace.
Kanalelo was snapped up by top South African outfit Mamelodi Sundowns and is now a coveted football coach in Southern Africa.
Arrows supplied the bulk of playing personnel in the South West Africa (SWA) Bantu Invitational side that toured Johannesburg by train in 1968. Arrows was represented by the quartet of Gabes “Flying Fish” Mupupa, Heinrich Horongo Haufiku, Linus “Bossie” Samaria and Tommy “Speedster” Ushona.
Among the club’s dozens of accolades in its decorated trophy-laden cabinet are: champions of the NSSL Knockout Cup 1987; league winners’ title during the inaugural season of topflight football in Independent Namibia in 1991; JPS Cup winners 1988; NFA Cup 2011; and champions of the maiden edition of the annual Navachab Cup getting the better of the mighty African Stars in the final in Karibib in 1993.