Arguably one of the most accomplished but less talked-about central defenders of his generation, former Botswana Police Eleven, African Stars, Blue Waters, Tigers Football Clubs and Brave Warriors' Ngajozikue Bethuel Mbuende, famously known as “Rasta” in football circles, was your typical modern-day centre-back, never afraid to launch attacks from the back.
The cool-as-a-cucumber centre-back bore the same characteristics as former Nottingham Forest and Three Lions, star defender Des Walker. Forever calm and collected under pressure, a great game-reader, Mbuende brought a new dimension to the local game with his visionary display in the middle of the defensive line, dislodging attacks with relative ease.
His trademark well-timed tackles and unbelievable interceptions thwarting danger with the precision of a seasoned butcher, was something out of this world.
He was the unofficial designated ‘Janitor’ of Katutura glamour football club Stars' rock-solid defence alongside club captain, the equally resolute Nico Hindjou, Vemuna “Roadblock” Hoveka and the versatile tough-tackling fullback, the late Bobby Tjiho.
After numerous failed attempts to track down the “flamboyant” defender, New Era Sport finally caught up with the calculated now-retired footie, as he relives his amazing unsaid football journey that took him across the border of his native land, cementing himself as a vital cog in the Gaborone outfit Botswana Police Eleven’s starting lineup.
A proud product of Windhoek’s Old Location, Mbuende, also known as “Rasta” was always football-crazy. He would play the game at any given time. He started chasing an inflated piece of leather at a very young age, playing street football with his peers in the neighbourhood.
A true gentleman in the real sense of the word, Mbuende never really played competitive football in organised topflight league structures on home soil until he skipped his motherland, silently slipping into Botswana in search of better educational opportunities.
Although he played for Epako Secondary School’s first team in Gobabis and local team Maroon Brothers in the Cattle Country League, the strongly built-defender only rose to prominence in the Botswana Premiership.
The Namibian refugee effortlessly marshalled the defence of local giants Botswana Police Eleven.
H enjoyed unsurpassed success with the “Stumps”, winning the coveted Lion Cup in addition to a runner-up spot against Botswana Defence Force (BDF 1X) in the same competition the following year.
The much-adored, calculated football playing centre-back returned home upon Namibia’s much-anticipated Independence in 1990. Spotting a completely new look with a Rastafarian hairdo, he wasted little time and joined forces with his childhood team African Stars Football Club.
He established himself as a rock in the Reds’ rearguard, winning the hearts and admiration of the usually hard-to-please Starlile’s “red army”.
His resolute defending propelled the fired-up Reds to runner-up spot for the coveted national Premiership title in 1991, finishing second behind Eleven Arrows in the closely-contested title race.
Mbuende went on to represent his native land in the prestigious CAF Mandela Cup Club Champions preliminaries against Zairean outfit Bongo Sport in 1992.
However, the Reds were eliminated 5-0 on aggregate, but Rasta could at least take solace with a gold medal in the Metropolitan Life Super Cup knockouts. Stars defeated crosstown rivals Ramblers 3-2 in an exciting 5-goal thriller at the Independence Stadium in 1993.
He was also the proud recipient of a gold medal when Starlile clinched the Castle Classic Cup the same year. Rasta’s calmness and leadership qualities obligated his teammates to bestow the sacred captain's armband upon the calculated defender.
In only his debut season as the Sheriff, he laid his hands on the CDM Trophy, in addition to gold medals in the Holstein and national league. The footballer also led Starlile to a runner-up spot in the Ramblers knockout cup tournament. He represented his motherland internationally, and was capped twice by the Brave Warriors against Mozambique and his adopted land Botswana, in that sequence.
In a surprising move, the dreadlocked defender abandoned the Reds’ smooth-sailing ship, only to resurface at coastal giants Blue Waters in the harbour town of Walvis Bay.
His vast experience and trademark calmness played a pivotal role in the Birds' fight to escape relegation.
His next stop was Tigers, where his steady defending propelled Ingwe to the final of the NFA Cup, only to stumble 1-0 against Nomtsoub outfit Chief Santos at the Independence stadium in 1999.
Well, there is an old saying that home is always where the heart is. The boy from the Cattle Country was not immune to this stone-aged adage. The prodigal son retreated home to wind off an otherwise flawless playing career with the club that introduced him to top-flight football.
Though by this time slightly long in the tooth “playing-wise”, Bro Rasta rejoined Stars' technical department, and was respectfully deployed in the role of assistant coach. He also mentored exciting Mondesa outfit Blue Boys in the country’s flagship league, certainly no mean feat.
Unlike many retired footies, Rasta boasts an impressive filthy-rich resume having acquired proper qualifications in the area of sport management/science and coaching in the following sequence: CAF High-Level Coaching Course (July 2001 - Windhoek), under the tutorship of veteran Ghanaian instructor Charles Kumi “CK” Gyamfi (September 2001 - Windhoek), Intermediate Division Coaching Course Herrn Frigge (March 2002 - Maseru, Lesotho), Certificate in Sport Physiotherapy (March 2002) and hordes of high-profile accolades, complemented by the prestigious NFA Instructors Coaching Course.
The now-retired defender successfully obtained a Diploma in Sport Sciences from the International Coaching Course in Leipzig, Germany (March 2010), to put the cherry on top of the cake from an otherwise amazing sporting career. The beautiful game of football runs in the genes of the Mbuende clan.
Rasta’s uncles Ambassador Dr Kaire and Caleb Mbuende also played the game for Old Location unfashionable sides Fire Star and Celtics, whilst distant cousin Godfried “Shoeshine” Kambanda was a formidable defender for ambitious Katutura giant-killers Hungry Lions. The latter pair have since gone the way of all flesh. May their souls continue to rest in ancestral power.