Born in the booming coastal harbour town of Walvis Bay on 22 July 1966, young Patrick started kicking tennis balls or inflated plastic bags at an early age, playing street football with boyhood buddies. The speedy forward, a proud descendant of the minority Topnaar unique ethnic group #Aonin, sub-clan of the Nama ethnic group, primarily...
Born Samuel Shimbuli in Windhoek’s old location in Namibia’s commercial hub on 30 March 1955, the elder son of long-serving copper Micah Shimbuli, young Samuel was an upright boy destined for greatness from day one, having been raised in a strict home where discipline, respect for elders, and decent behavior were non-negotiable. A proud product...
Though Harry was born in the internationally acclaimed holiday hub Swakopmund, often referred to as ‘Kleine Deutschland’ for her hard-to-ignore German architecture and historical buildings, the tallish defender spent a significant chunk of his formative years in the harbour town of Walvis Bay. Harry started his elementary education in his adopted habitat. Growing up in...
In his own words, Nicodemus Kudulu, famously paddling on the nickname ‘Cruyff, after Dutch legend Johan Cruyff, Kudulu confessed to New Era Sport that he was in fact a staunch supporter of Kuisebmund outfit Eleven Arrows Football Club, but strong tribal ties obligated him to start his amazing football career with their bitter rivals Blue...
Back in the day, if you were not a fully recognised resident of ‘Tize’ (Windhoek), or accredited ‘Baainaar’ (Walvis-Bay), one will be brutally enveloped in the category of ‘Moegoes’, which is someone in dire need of refinement to perfectly tie in with the ‘Kasi’ style. Additionally, one was strictly required to be flawlessly fluent in...
A good jolly fellow, Alcino ‘Shorty’ da Costa, arrived in the garden town at a very young age and immediately warmed himself up into the hearts of the predominantly conservative German and Afrikaners community, including folks across the colour line. An astute businessman excelling in the electrical and appliance industry, Shorty was a self-styled community activist,...
Elder brother to retired multitalented athlete cum stylish-‘footie’ Abisai Tjauue ‘Shabby’ Rukero, Benestus Katuiisa Rukero was born on 8 February 1943, at Okaepe village in the Otjozondjupa region in 1943. The raw village boy invaded the boxing arena during a time when well established leather traders, spearheaded by Eazy Ngangura ‘Brown Bomber’ Tjahikika, Levy...
Any footballer worth their salt who have at some stage in their playing career shared the dressing room with the great Times Mwetuyela, should not be taken lightly. Logic suggest they must have possessed extra ordinary talent and skill to rub shoulders with the much adored left footed attacker. If one has to define the...
Back in the early 70s, uncompromising political activist Izaak Swarts, took it upon his tiny shoulders to singlehandedly confront the prevailing injustices and oppression by spreading the gospel of freedom to marginalised communities, encouraging them to resist and reject the puke-inducing apartheid system at all costs. Swarts used the beautiful game of football to advocate...
Born Malcolm Jacobs on the 20th of November 1965, in Steenberg, Cape Town, South Africa, he completed his primary education at Sullivan Primary School and Heathfield High School. From a very young age, sport, especially football, shaped both his character and future. Malcolm was destined for greatness. He represented Sullivan Primary in inter-schools’ competitions across...