Born and raised in the sacred garden town of Okahandja, young George ‘Georgie’ Gariseb started playing competitive football for boyhood Nau-Aib outfit Spoilers Football Club, proudly following in the footsteps of his equally talented old man Gustav ‘Boesman’ Gariseb. An energetic young man of decent upbringing, Gariseb started his elementary education at the local institution...
Author: Carlos Kambaekwa (Carlos Kambaekwa )
Tales of the Legends – Double tragedy for Namibian football …RIP Charles Sikabongo Siyauya 1975-2025
Though his football credentials are sketchy, Charles Siyauya shot to fame as an uncompromising political activist mobilising support for the ruling Swapo in his native Zambezi region since his youth days, until he rose to become the Swapo Party Youth League (SPYL) spokesperson. Born in Schuckmansburg, Kabbe Constituency of Zambezi region on 10 March 1975,...
Tales of the Legends – Tribute to departed midfield kingpin …RIP – ‘Gotty’ Gurirab 1959 – 2025
Born in Omaruru in 1959, young Gotthardt ‘Gotty’ Gurirab found himself shifting from one town to another as his dad was a much sought-after roaming police officer who was regularly posted from one station to another. ‘Gotty’ spent a significant chunk of his childhood either in Gobabis or in Windhoek. ‘Gotty’ completed his elementary education...
Tales of the Legends – Trading leather with ‘The Rose of Opuwo’ James Pekaha, the undisputed boxing champion
Unlike dozens of his peers from the far north-west Kunene region, August Uzuva Howard ‘James’ Pekaha was not delivered from his old lady’s womb under the shades of trees, or in some cow dung-constructed dwelling. The calculated brother made his appearance on mother planet in a slightly more civilised fashion at the Orumana Mission makeshift...
Tales of the Legends – Remembering unbeatable agile ‘gloves man’ The phenomenal Wolfgang Wuensch 1930 – 1989
Respectfully, the fairytale story of Wolfgang Wuensch is a very interesting one, so to speak. The young lad had to navigate his way through a thorny journey before finding refuge in South West Africa (SWA) (‘Kleine Deutschland’) far away from his then native war ravaged Czechoslovakia. Born in the city of Bronn, on the 30th...
Tales of the Legends – Up close with well-polished Atlantic goal-machine Holger ‘Holli’ Gruttemeyer
Born and bred in the lavish coastal holiday hub Swakopmund on 25 January 1956, ‘Holli’ Gruttemeyer started his elementary education in his hometown before earning his school-leaving certificate from the revered Swakopmund Secondary School. Like many ‘Pikininis’ his age of German descent, ‘Holli’ was football-crazy and would play the game at the slightest provocation. Such...
Tales of the Legends – The unknown side of BA’s strongman Leviticus Karretjie ‘Fataar’ Hindjou
If you happened to reside in Windhoek’s Old Location back in the day, one would be labelled a ‘moegoe’ and in dire need of refinement if you have not rubbed shoulders with some of the ‘Langanas’ in the hood. Fearless blokes Ignatius Mbapeua ‘Mazola’ Katataiza, ‘Ou Windhoek’, Apostoli, Vetamunisa ‘Fusi’ Keimuine, Khoatis and a few...
Tales of the Legends – Ghosts’ forgotten man: Lost and finally found Alfeus Prince ‘Zombies’ Goreseb
Biological offspring of the iconic late Damara Gaob Dawid Goreseb, ‘Bro Zombies’ was destined for greatness ever since he was a snot neus ‘Pikinini’ at the Catholic Mission Primary School in Usakos, holed up in the mountainous Erongo region. His old man Paramount Chief of the Damara ethnic group, the multilingual Gaob Goreseb, an organic...
Tales of the Legends – In the jungle with the indomitable ‘Onamungudo Lion’ Itope-Kauluma aka ‘Makatchaka’
Born Johannes Kauluma on 9 June 1966 in Ondjondjo/Oluno on the outskirts of Ondangwa, he was adopted by foster parents. He grew up in the coastal harbour town of Walvis Bay. Interestingly, his foster mother was the old lady of the football-playing siblings Ronnie Kanalelo, Shindere and Salathiel ‘Stimela’ Ndjao. It was obvious that he...
Tales of the Legends – The positive influence of sport in the life and times of ‘Manni’ Goldbeck
“We had a lot of free time on our hands, and there was not much going on, so we resolved to play football inside the school hall. Many happy hours were spent engaging in small games kicking around between the boys. My passion for football and sport in general was born right there which culminated...