There is an old saying that dynamite comes in small packages and this adage is a fitting tribute to former African Stars uncompromising right wing, Zebaldt Tjitemisa, better known as Zeb or Hija Kaatjee or still better by his clan name, Mbarinovandu.
Born in Windhoek’s Old Location in 1951, Zeb was among the first crop of exciting young footballers brought in to revive the ailing fortunes of an ageing African Stars Football Club outfit in the early seventies. Despite his lack of height, coupled with limited dribbling skills, which was the set criteria for any prospective footballer in those days, Zeb was like a possessed Bull Terrier and never pulled out of battles as he jostled tooth and nail for ball possession against robust defenders the likes of Izaak ‘Whoops’ Gariseb, Spokes Tibinyane, Lala Lombard and the hard tackling ageing German ‘Tsigeib’ Gariseb. With football a popularly pastime in those days for bored youngsters, the influence of elders meant interest in the beautiful game was firmly entrenched in the minds of many youngsters who became exposed to it. Here is the full story of this stocky winger with the heart of a lion.
WINDHOEK – As the emergence of many talented young footballers on an organized basis gathered momentum – Zeb together with Smody Kamaheke and Merino Kandonga were the three oldest players in the African Stars starting lineup that defeated Black Africa in the historic Daves Furnishers Cup final in Katutura in 1974. Albert Tjihero, was the youngest member of the squad and played a vital role in the Stars victory on that freezing Sunday afternoon.
At the fairly advanced age of 62, Zeb vividly remembers that memorable Sunday afternoon at the old Katutura Stadium when Stars confronted traditional rivals Black Africa in the final of the first ever knockout cup tournament carrying a lucrative prize money of N$1 000, which was a massive amount of money in those years. The Pius Eigowab inspired Gemengde-based outfit was on fire in that particular tournament, having accounted for some of the finest teams en route to the final to set up a date with arch rivals African Stars.
Both Eigowab (BA) and Oscar Mengo (Stars) had just returned from a stint in Johannesburg where the pair featured for Soweto glamour football club Kaizer Chiefs in the South African Professional Football League. While Mengo was pulling the strings in the middle of the park for the Reds, Eigowab was rattling the opposition’s net at will at the other end. Needless to say, both sets of players made their presence felt in that historic final. Zeb was deployed in the right wing position in a four-pronged attack that included his old buddy Smody Kamahake, Ben Kauejao and young Karumbu Kahiha with Kaika Kuzee and Mengo sharing responsibilities in the middle of the park. Zeb had an outstanding match and defied all odds stacked against him managing to manoeuvre his way past experienced defenders Vossie van Wyk and Gabes Dausab, doubtlessly, the best centre back to emerge in our neck of the woods. He also had to deal with the equally uncompromising trio of Malaka Somseb, Willy Katire and the ever-present Vossie ‘Boetman’ van Wyk, but still came out unscathed. “That’s one football match that will remain stuck in my memory as long as I’m alive. We came through a very tough match against Blue Waters in the semifinal and facing Black Africa with the fired up sharp-shooter Eigowab in their midst was literally like taking the bull by the horns,” reveals Zeb.
Going into the match as underdogs, Stars took a shock 2-goal cushion at the halftime break through strikes by ersatz fullback Bush Menjengua and Ben Keuejao’s bullet like header. However, a clearly rejuvenated BA lifted their game and found themselves back on level terms with two quick goals by Eigowab and Five Hochobeb. BA looked certain to walk away with the trophy until a relatively young and unknown midfielder going by the name of Albert ‘Karumbu’ Kahiha popped up to deliver the killer blow with a long-range strike to seal the tie. This was the match that earned young Tjihero the misplaced nickname Ejengo Okaserandu Nguari Pejovi in Otjiherero meaning the red one who was solely responsible for the one-thousand-dollars. Tjihero single-handedly polished his more celebrated opponents Hochobeb and Albert Louw to come out tops.
Zeb went onto represent Stars with flying colours in several knockout tournaments in the absence of organized league structures, touring places like Kimberley and Upington in neigbouring South Africa. However, the inevitable arrival of Immanuel Kamuserandu and Kaputji Kuhanga from Blue Waters FC meant the stocky winger and fellow winger Smody would be relegated to the Reds’ second team. Nevertheless, he enjoyed a successful career with the Katutura glamour football club until he relocated to Arandis where he became a founding member of Sorento Bucks FC. “By that time, I was getting a bit long in the tooth and only featured for the team’s second strings.” In the meantime, he would feature for his adopted town’s team, Outjo-based Golden Bees FC during weekends until he retired from the game.
His football career started with the now defunct Epako outfit Sunshine FC in Gobabis where he played alongside the late Samuel Kandjii, Katuri Kapuire, Kauka Uharua, Epson Kapuire and Chief Tumbee Tjombe. He was finally lured to the African Stars stable after an impressive display that saw him running rings around the ageing Reds back line comprising of gangling defenders David Tjiroze and Usiel Tjijenda in a friendly match in the Epako Township in 1970. His arrival at Stars coincided with that of many youngsters who where brought in to strengthen the ageing team as the older players faded out with Amos Tjombe and Mike Pack the only surviving members from the old guard.
Zeb will go down in the golden pages of the history of Stars as a valued member of the golden generation after he inherited the sacred No 7 jersey from the team’s legendary flying winger, Obed Kamburona. He made his senior debut in the popular Big Ben knockout cup tournament which Stars won 2-1 against Tigers in the final with young Ace Tjirera netting the winning goal. He also had some nasty moments on the football pitch as can be attested by the day he put his whistle in the pocket to challenge former Orlando Pirates strongman Dios ‘Zebbo’ Engelbrecht, who was well respected for packing a decent right hook. “Dios always wanted to impose himself on others and I just had enough of his bossy attitude, that’s why I challenged him for a physical confrontation but somewhere in the back of my mind I was fully aware that if he struck me first time I would be statistics. He really packed dynamite in his fists, but luckily for me the elders intervened and I was sparred a potential serious beating. Zeb comes from a well-respected football family, as his old man Justus Handura, played for African Stars in the early days of the team’s formation. Younger brothers Njangata and Amos Kajau manned the sticks for Stars at different intervals, while Thabo Tsamaseb, was arguably the finest centre back during his tenure in the heart of Orlando Pirates rearguard until a horrific car accident ended his promising football career prematurely. As if this is not enough, another brother, Justus ‘Mengo’ Tjazerua, was a great midfielder with Okahandja based Morocco FC. All these players were good footballers in their own right, while his elder son Steven Tjenao also played at the highest level with distinction for both Chief Santos and African Stars.
By Carlos ‘CK’ Kambaekwa