Phileas Janka, the talented goalkeeper who has been the backbone of his team Collin Benjamin Soccer (CBS) Academy, recently won the Under-19 goalkeeper’s trophy after playing a pivotal role in guiding them to the honours in their group.
Janka, who conceded only eight goals throughout the season, demonstrated exceptional skills in preventing opposition goals.
As a true guardian of the goal, he intercepted and stopped countless attempts, solidifying his reputation as a key player for CBS. “I am really grateful and proud to be awarded this accolade. It means a lot to me to win such a significant award, and it shows that all the hard work I have put in throughout the season has paid off. Overall, I am proud of myself, and grateful to have earned the U/19 goalkeeper award,” he said.
Reflecting on the season, Janka acknowledged the critical role his defence played in his success. “It was an amazing season, but I could not have done it without the defence in front of me. I can say the key to achieving this award was talking to the defence and, of course, training hard every week and at weekends. I am excited to have conceded only eight goals all-season, but I am also proud of CBS for keeping the opposition far from my goal, and putting in the extra work to defend our goal.”
His journey to becoming a goalkeeper began when he was just five years old, originally playing as a winger. However, his fate took a turn when he was asked to step in as goalkeeper during a tournament in Otjiwarongo.
“Our goalkeeper didn’t show up, so I jumped in, and it turned out I was quite decent at it. Since that day, I have been training hard to become a professional goalkeeper one day,” he enthused.
Coach Henrico Botes praised Janka for a stellar performance this season and noted that the team’s cohesion was key to their success.
“It’s a fantastic achievement for him on a personal level. Winning the U/19 goalkeeper of the season at just 16 years old says a lot. Together with his defence, they only conceded eight goals,” he said.
Botes is confident that Janka has the potential to become a top goalkeeper in future.
“Phileas has the attributes to become a top goalkeeper. He is still young, and needs to improve in certain areas to become a top modern goalkeeper. CBS always challenges players to perform at a higher level, and I’m excited to see how they will perform in the upcoming HopHydro Cup in January.”
Janka attributes his recent success to guidance from his coaches, especially national team goalkeepers’ coach Arnold Subeb. “Coach Arnold always pushed me to my limits, and worked on my weak spots. My style of play has improved due to his coaching, and learning from the mistakes I made.”
With both personal and team achievements under his belt, he is looking forward to 2025 with great ambition.
“My plans for 2025 are to win the HopHydro Cup and the league. I want to work hard towards achieving my goals, and improving as much as I can. The most important thing is to never stop working, and always strive for results and improvement,” Janka added.