TSUMEB – Chief Santos Football Club’s chairperson Lilongeni Gurney Geiseb told New Era Sport that the team’s downfall can be attributed to the lack of grooming, which they are working hard on.
The 62-year-old club is sponsored by Consolidated Copper Corporation (CCC), highlighting the mining company’s commitment to using football as a platform for positive change, and impacting the community through various means.
“In the past, what led to the downfall of Chief Santos was the lack of grooming, the lack of players to replace the likes of Mohammed Ouseb, and that is why the academy aspect is important,” said Geiseb during the signing ceremony by Consolidated Copper Corporation in Tsumeb recently.
He noted that the girl-child was not included in sports, which is high on the agenda, and the team has extended to include ladies’ football. The club was relegated to the second league in 2005 after its stint in the Namibia Premier League. Three years later, under the stewardship of Ouseb, Chief Santos was promoted back to the league. They returned to the Premier League again in 2016, taking the victory in their final North-East First Division match.
Ouseb concurred with Geiseb that grooming is one of the oversights of the club to maintain consistency and enhance the team’s performance in the league.
“I was part of Blue Boys from Swakopmund, and I had to move that side because of circumstances and unfortunately, it didn’t work out. I am back, and will engage the management – we have had a few talks before, so I am going to be involved with the team,” said Ouseb.
He assured that he would assist where he could, especially with the academy’s team,
and grooming the school-going players.
“What I saw in the past was the lack of involvement from us, especially the former players, because we must take the responsibility of grooming the boys and girls and getting more involved. I can say that back then, it was probably one person who was grooming about 30 to 40 players, so it’s not easy at all,” recalled the former Orlando Pirates player.
The defender said the Tsumeb community must morally and wholeheartedly support the team, “We need more supporters, and as a former player – I know when you go in the field and you see supporters and enthusiasts making noise on the pavilion in Chief Santos’ colours, it encourages one as a player and pushes one to the limit, so we need people.”
CCC’s CEO John Sisay said the strength of a company depends on the community, and their pledge to the team is a small start.
“As a mine, we should always try to motivate the youth within the community, and football is one of those things that is universal. Whilst we are doing this as a social thing, we are doing this as a competitive thing. I want Chief Santos to move to the Premier League. We want to bring that cup to Tsumeb, so we expect the players to deliver. We don’t want any Harry Maguires,” he jokingly said.