A valuable veteran of ‘Kahirona’s very first generation Ngumbati Nehemiah James Tjihuiko, was a resolute Life Fighters Sport Club stalwart, who stood the test of times during stormy waters. His unquenchable love for the ‘Purple Project’ and ultimate desire to see this great institution thrive knew no boundaries, as can be attested by his unconditional, emotional support towards the club’s overall welfare. 

Tjihuiko represented the ‘Purple Project’ with pride and great aplomb during the hotly-contested knockout cup tournaments, including the now-defunct annual Chief Hosea Kutako Cup, hosted by Life Fighters on home soil. 

In the intervening years, he oversaw the gradual integration of several highly gifted youngsters into the scheme of things spearheaded by the pair of devastating wingers, Gerson Kaputji Kuhanga, Immanuel Nazaru Kamuserandu, deadly attackers George Kongunja Kasuto, Rikua Kahorongo, burly fullback Joseph ‘Seadog’ Kuhanga and tallish defender ‘Lucky’ Kuhanga amongst others.

Otjiwarongo based Life Fighters Football Club has over many years, always unearthed great footies of remarkable pedigree who left their mark on the domestic football scene. Tjihuiko was no ordinary footballer, the brother was a football genius with the spherical object glued to his feet. 

The slender tallish attacker was a serial goal scorer who banged in goals as if the art of goal scoring was going out of fashion. Tjihuiko was the heartbeat of ‘Kahirona’ as his name was always first on the team list of starting eleven.  He will go down in history as one of the most outstanding performers of the ‘Purple Project’. 

A dribbling wizard of note, Tjihuiko formed the spine of the purple and foam strip outfit, alongside great fellow ball juggler Kanomora ‘Number’ Ngavetene, ‘Pottie’ Mbarandongo, Adolf ‘Tepa’ Muriua, Ebson Mboha Nganjone, and Captain Fantastic Alphews ‘Jayzz’ Mbakera. 

Kahirona used to compete fiercely in the hotly contested knockout cup tournaments mostly in the northern part of the country in towns such as Grootfontein, Otavi, Tsumeb, Kalkfeld, Outjo, Kombat, and Omaruru in that sequence. 

Back in the day, the compact mountainous mining town of Kombat boasted a very competitive football team that had in her armoury phenomenal football playing mineworkers from abroad. ‘Kahirona’ also made her mark in the now defunct annual Chief Hosea Kutako Floating Trophy hosted by Life Fighters in Otjiwarongo in the early 70s.   

Tjihuiko’s genes dictated he would be a footballer of note after all cousins former Parliamentarian Arnold ‘Mostert’ Kaponoo Tjihuiko and Festus ‘Lefa’ Ndjiruete were notable ‘footies’ in their own right who both plied their trade with Katutura glamour football club African Stars at different intervals.         

The likeable attacking midfielder was in the team that surprised friend and foe by reaching the final of a knockout cup tournament in Windhoek hosted by Flames Football Club in 1973. Fighters saw off coastal giants Blue Waters, Katutura based Orlando Pirates and unfashionable Kuisebmund outfit Red Fire, aka ‘Ozohande’ en route to the final.

Regrettably, Kahirona was forcefully obligated to forfeit their appearance in the delayed final as the majority of the club’s playing personnel could not get leave from their respective employers the following weekend. 

To worsen matters, in those days, Bantus (blacks) were strictly prohibited from roaming freely in the land of their ancestors and needed special permits to visit other towns. Nonetheless, this did not stop the amazing ‘Purple Project’ from making waves in several domestic knockout cup tournaments in the maize triangle. 

An elegant dresser, Tjihuiko was a stylish dude off the pitch but a beast on the playing field mesmerizing robust defenders with his trademark tricky dribbling skills tricks and could strike the ball fairly well with both feet. Upon retirement from playing competitive football, the departed Tjihuiko continued to closely follow and support the ‘Purple Project’ physically and emotionally. He barely missed the club’s home games. 

Those who rubbed shoulders with him on the playing field describe Tjihuiko as a great talent and one the finest athletes to have ever donned the delicious purple and white strip of Kahirona. Without a shadow of doubt one of the greatest players Kahirona has ever delivered. May your soul rest in peace my brother, writes former Life Fighters midfielder Percy ‘Sledge’ Tjaverua. 

“He was a livewire attacker, vividly remember him mesmerising robust defenders with sheer skill and made us stand on our toes as we pushed through the legs of elders to get a glimpse of his magical touches on the ball,” recalls Otjiwarongo born former Blue Waters player Manfred Namaseb.