Former Namibian international footballer Epafras ‘Bobby’ Justinus has turned his focus to helping local players secure contracts abroad, as he prepares to become a Fifa-licensed football agent.
Hailing from Oshakati in northern Namibia, he began his football journey at the age of 13 with Foxy Senior.
In 2021, he signed with Ukrainian side Karpaty, where his passion for the game deepened.
He started envisioning a future as a football agent.
However, his time in Ukraine was cut short due to the Russia-Ukraine war, forcing him to leave the club.
He later joined Nico United in the Botswana Premier League, but a serious knee injury during pre-season led to the termination of his contract before the league even started.
Upon returning to Namibia, Justinus played for Golden Bigs before deciding to retire from professional football to pursue his long-standing dream of becoming a football agent. “I made the decision to step away from playing and focus on helping young players get contracts outside of Namibia because there aren’t enough agents in the country to represent them,” he said.
To achieve this, Justinus is preparing to write the Fifa agent licensing examination in June, with guidance from experienced mentors like Peter Haufiku (Namibia), Moran Nthoiwa (Botswana/Ireland) and Lebogang Guluva (South Africa).
Despite not holding the official license yet, he has already made strides in the industry by connecting several players with clubs across Africa and Europe through his network of partners.
Among the players he helped secure contracts are Sadney Urikhob, who played for Dynamos in Zimbabwe before moving to Scotland; Isaskar Gurirab, who joined Simba Bhora in Zimbabwe; Norris Mwamba, who signed with Botswana Defence Force; and Rouen Tjihumba, who plays for Caps United in Zimbabwe.
“These players are not officially under my management because I don’t have the lience yet, but I connected them to licensed agents who facilitated their deals,” he stated.
Justinus directly manages a number of players, including Phillip Nashixwa, who plays for Weiche 08 in Germany; Devine Ole Somseb of Tigers; Ronel Manyanga of Matebele in Botswana; and Etene Ernest, who plies his trade at Concordia in Romania’s second division.
Justinus represents players like Jefta Kaulinge, who is currently unattached, as well as Ronaldo Marselinu, who plays for Eshoke Chula Chula in Namibia.
“I believe Namibia has a lot of talented players, but the lack of agents makes it difficult for them to secure contracts abroad. Many only manage to move to countries like Botswana or South Africa, while others in different countries are playing in bigger leagues,” he said.
His ultimate goal is to see more Namibian players competing in top leagues across Europe and Africa.
This he believes will not only elevate their careers but also strengthen the national team.
“With the right exposure and representation, I’m confident we will soon have Namibian players in the Union of European Football Associations Champions League,” Justinus added.
He is optimistic that once he obtains his Fifa licence, he will play a pivotal role in transforming the careers of Namibian footballers and opening doors to greater opportunities on the global stage.
-lmupetami@nepc.com.na