WINDHOEK – Local football guru Robert Matlabo, a South African national, who certainly left deep tracks in the overall development of football in the then South West Africa (SWA) during his tenure as a municipal social worker in Windhoek in the 60’s.
The beanpole footballer-cum-astute-administrator plied his trade with Katutura Municipal FC and was solely instrumental in the creation of Eleven Arrows (Walvis Bay) and Explorer Eleven (Windhoek) in the mid-60’s.
Matlabo is widely accredited as the man who gifted domestic football a new lease of life. He suggested the name Katutura Pirates but Lemmy and company would have none of that and defiantly stuck to Orlando Pirates.
Club officials were obliged to write a letter seeking approval from Orlando Pirates’ hierarchy in Johannesburg, South Africa, for the usage of the name including Pirates’ black and white regalia.
Although Pirates (SA) gave their counterparts from across the Orange River the thumbs up to use its name and colours, the Soweto giants were not prepared to share its sacred Ghosts’ emblem engraved on the club’s badge with their SWA copycats.
Pirates played their first official match against the star-studded Explorer Eleven FC (Windhoek) – narrowly losing the tie 3-2. The Sea Robbers wasted little time and reinforced their squad – roping in the services of several talented youngsters.
It did not take long for Pirates to announce their arrival on the domestic football scene as the club went on to stamp their authority, winning several knockout cup competitions without having to shed much sweat.
Among other accolades were the popular Altreda and Champ of Champions silverware but it was not until the early 70’s that Pirates started to dominate domestic football with ease.
The team’s eye-catching style of attacking football became the envy of many football followers including their rivals. The virtuosity of terrible wingers Willem Eichab and Daniel Koopman aided by the unmatched goal-scoring prowess of Lemmy and Michael Pienaar made Pirates the team to beat in domestic football.
Add the breathtaking goalkeeping of Japhet ‘Bump Jive’ Hellao, cousined by the cool as a cucumber centre back Steve ‘Kalamazoo’ Stephanus, arguably the best centre back in the history of Namibian football to the list and you have a near flawless squad laden with highly gifted athletes.
The quartet of Pirates, Namib Woestyn, Eleven Arrows and Tigers were the dominant force in local football – leaving local rivals African Stars and Black Africa green with envy as they went about their business unhindered on the field of play.
However, it was not all smooth sailing for the fired-up sea robbers. The club was expelled from all football related activities after their goalkeeping pair of Abel and Jeremiah went ballistic, verbally and physically assaulting football officials under the stewardship of the late Kephas Conradie with minimal provocation in 1969.
Pirates were subsequently expelled for three years but officials made a U-turn and reduced the fine to six months including a fine of N$350 since the standard of football quickly diminished in the absence of the Ghosts. Pirates suspended players kept fit by playing rugby amongst themselves, albeit non-competitively.
The two troublemakers received a lifetime ban, bringing to an abrupt end the unfulfilled promising football career of the two shot stoppers with extraordinary talents.
Nevertheless, the acrobatic Japhet ‘Bump Jive’ Hellao proved a capable replacement and the pair’s unceremonious departure had no bearing on the club’s rapid progress, if any.
Pirates went on to stamp their authority in local football after the inaugural edition of multi-racial football in 1977.
The club won the second edition of the coveted Mainstay Cup in 1978 as Eric Muinjo’s solitary strike gifted the Buccaneers a 1-0 victory over traditional rivals Black Africa at the packed to rafters Katutura Stadium.
Although Pirates defended their title successfully the following year, the club was denied a well-deserved historic triumph when football officials declared SKW, Pirates’ victims in that particular ill-fated final, the winners after Pirates for some strange reason arrived 45 minutes late for the kick-off.
Pirates boast a remarkable record of a decent number of wins in the country’s flagship knockout tournament, the coveted NFA Tafel Lager Cup, winning the prestigious national football cup on no less than three occasions (2002, 2006 and 2009), one shy of joint record holders African Stars and Chief Santos.
Ironically, Pirates could only lay their hands on the elusive MTC Premiership league title under the stewardship of current BA mentor Brian Isaacs and astute football scout Mario Carreira in the 2007/2008 season.
By Carlos ‘CK’
Kambaekwa