A product of the coastal town Walvis Bay’s largest residential area, Kuisebmond, the late Julius Haggendoorn was destined to excel on the football field. After all, he was born to a football crazy family with elder brother Laurentius “Daito” Haggendoorn cutting through robust defenders with the precision of a seasoned butcher during his days at exciting coastal outfit Namib Woestyn FC.
Up to this day, many football pundits strongly believe that the merciless Namib Woestyn FC quartet of Haban Adams, Axarob Haoseb, Straal Auchumeb and Daito Haggendoorn, was the finest and arguably most complete firing line in the annals of domestic football.
Growing up among a galaxy of the above-mentioned football greats, young Julius was surely destined for the big stage. However, the burly youngster, whose good looks and greenish Irish eyes resembled that of a movie star, only rose to prominence when he arrived in the city of lights (Windhoek) to further his academic studies at the predominantly coloured/basters Ellah Du Plessis High School in Khomasdal.
The soft-spoken Julius’ usual laid-back lifestyle fooled many opposing defenders, who sometimes mistook him for a sissy, but the bulky forward was a menace on the football field and proved a hot potato to handle.
Ella Du Plessis has produced many a football star, including Capes Nel, Stanley Coetzee, the late Klazen siblings Chris and Pakka, Eric Muinjo, Ivan Brown, Clement Kloppers, Erich Scheiffer, Ghaky Jossop, Dawid Ockhuizen, Dove Fransman and Boetie Samuels under the stewardship of the shrewd Capetonian pair of Boet Mathews and John Abrahams.
The school became one of the top football-playing teams locally and would compete fiercely in knockout cup competitions, notably in Khomasdsal and Katutura, giving many established clubs in the business a good run for their money.
Occasionally, Jukes would also turn out for his boyhood club Namib Desert in Walvis Bay, steering the green and gold outfit to several triumphs in knockout cup competitions.
In absence of league structures, footballers were not registered with their respective clubs and thus now obliged to seek clearance if they wanted to feature for their preferred clubs on any give day.
Upon leaving school, Jukes put up tent in Windhoek and took up employment at South West Autohaus as a motor mechanic. His next stop was the newly established City United, a football entity formed by a significant chunk of players who defected from the now defunct semi professional outfit Windhoek City.
The new team had football greats in their armoury led by the flamboyant attacking flair of Siggy Anderson, Peter Rath, George Hill, Vic Lovell, Boet Mathews, Ian Wood, Stanley Coetzee, Kendall Carson and John Abrahams under the stewardship of astute football guru, uncle Bobby Sissing.
Jukes was one of six players of colour included in the very first SWA multi racial team alongside Archie Ochurub, Boet Mathews, Willy Rwida, Ace Tjirera and Doc Naobeb, to represent their native land SWA (Namibia) in the annual South African Provincial Currie Cup Tournament in East London, South Africa in 1977.
Apart from sporadic exhibition matches against visiting leading South African clubs Kaizer Chiefs, Orlando Pirates and Morokka Swallows as well as the biannual South African Provincial Impala Cup for darkish hide athletes, the annual Currie Cup was regarded the flagship competition for local footballers.
As a result of the self-inflicted exile from international football due to the South African apartheid regime, any footballer worth his salt that has never represented his native land in the annual popular Currie Cup during that era would be considered incomplete.
The name of Julius “Manne” Haggendoorn, will be engraved in the golden pages of our national archives as being among the very first athletes to represent their native land in a supposedly democratically selected football side.
Even though that team’s selection raised some eyebrows considering the conspicuous omission of more deserved candidates from the Katutura big four Black Africa, Orlando Pirates, Stars and Tigers.
Jukes was always in high demand and sometimes featured as a guest player for leading clubs including ambitious Katutura outfit Poison Cobra, Black Africa and in later years, Portuguese coastal outfit Sparta FC in his hometown Walvis Bay, where he led the seasiders firing line alongside the deadly pair of Pius Eigowab and Doc Hardley.
Bra Jukes might have long been reunited with his ancestors after taking a bow from the game of life at the fairly young age 49. He lost a long battle with diabetes, but his legacy will forever be enshrined in the memories of those who keenly follow the beautiful game. May his soul rest in eternal peace.