WINDHOEK – Cometh the hour cometh the man, Muuaa was undoubtedly one of the finest but most underrated defenders in the business during an astonishing era that was rewarded with a league medal during the inauguration season of the breakaway Namibia Soccer Super League (NSSL) in 1985.
A product of the garden town, Okahandja – like many young boys in the neighbourhood, Muuaa’s dream was to ply his trade with boyhood club African Stars where his old man Danger Siririka reigned supreme during the 50’s and 60’s.
Born in 1964, Muuaa grew up chasing a plastic ball with boyhood buddies Muuonge Katjihingua, Putji Tjaveondja, Norii Kaanjuka, Fares Katjiku, Tony Meroro and Pajee Kakorokoro. He started out with a small club from the Nau-Aib location, by the name of Morroko City FC.
Unlike many of his peers from his hometown, the stocky defender joined Benfico Bucks when he arrived at Augustineum High School in Windhoek in 1982 to further his secondary education.
He showed maturity way belying his tender age and rookie tag. Word of his talent quickly spread through the Katutura township – thus alerting Katutura rivals African Stars and Hungry Lions, who were both scrambling for his signature but the young defender chose Stars.
However, he was to endure a frustrating spell at the Reds’ nest as he was made to bide his time on the substitute’s bench with regular right back George Gariseb having made the number two jersey his personal property.
In the meantime, Muuaa got some consolation when he was selected for the South West Africa Schools football team that competed in the prestigious annual South African Provincial Schools Tournament in Cape Town.
Among his celebrated team-mates were the legendary Frank Fredericks, Packs Ushona, Forra Nicodemus, Phillip Muinjo, Jose Viljoen, Dan-Boy Ndjadila and some of the country’s finest young footballers.
“We had a very good squad and did fairly well winning four of our five matches only to lose in the final in the last match. Back home I was fed up playing second fiddle to George and warming the bench because I honestly felt I deserved to be given a chance to prove my worth,” reveals Muuaa
He could no longer stomach being an understudy to the bearded overlapping fullback and sent shockwaves among the Reds faithful when he jumped ship to join forces with Tigers where he became an instant hit with the Ingweinyama supporters. He became an integral part of Tigers rearguard and benefited greatly from the intelligent playing style of cool as a cucumber centre back, Metuu Hipondoka.
“Frankly speaking, I was very lucky in the sense that I joined a well balanced team laden with great athletes such as Dale Stephanus, Grey Umati, Bandike Ochurub, Steve Haihambo, Jerry Tjizoo, Oubaas Pogisho, Issy Naruseb, Kumi Umati, Bricks Hangula and Foresta Nicodemus.”
Muuaa went on to enjoy success with the Shadumbala Boys and played a pivotal role when the Dale inspired Tigers clinched the maiden edition of the breakaway Namibia Soccer Super League (NSSL) in 1985.
In the intervening years, he steered his beloved Tigers to numerous victories in knockout cup competitions and was a pillar of strength for the Ingweinyama’s march to stardom.
However, work commitments obliged Muuaa to vacate his position at Tigers as he relocated to the copper town, Tsumeb where he joined sister club Benfica Football Club.
After a season and a half – he was on the road again. His next stop was the tiny remote north-west town of Outjo after he was summoned by his late uncle to take up the reigns in his grocery shop in the town. Muuaa joined the town’s glamour football club Golden Bees, a team that made heat waves in the country’s nationwide second tier division.
The tough tackling defender quickly established himself as one of the club’s most valuable players alongside Bantu Nangombe, Andehe Haimbondi and Samani Kamerika.
He played a big part in helping the club gain promotion to the country’s elite league during the promotion play-offs in Walvis Bay. The much travelled defender also had a stint with Opuwo outfit Black United in the vast Kunene Region.
Muuaa was United’s most experienced player and it came as no surprise when he walked away with the prestigious man of the tournament award during one of the popular regional tournaments in Okakarara.
After winning almost everything there was to be won in domestic football and of course, with father time calling – Muuaa finally retired from the game that took him to all corners of the country and beyond the borders of his native land, in 1993.
He still cherishes some of his memorable moments on the football pitch and regards former Orlando Pirates pocket size striker, Jorries Afrikaner, as a tricky customer to deal with while he enjoyed the uncompromising derbies against old foes African Stars to the fullest.
“I always enjoyed playing against Stars because I wanted to do well in those battles just to show them that they made a grave mistake by letting me go. I also felt obliged to stop my all time favourite player Oscar ‘Silver Fox’ Mengo, right in his tracks, since he was my role model.”
The likeable ebony skinned defender could not resist a parting shot at the current standard of domestic football. “It’s way below the standards we set up during our time. The problem is simple – there are just no more special footballers that can attract football lovers to the stadiums.
“In our days, fans would go through the turnstiles en masse to watch any team play because each and every side had one or two exceptional players who could turn the complexion of the game with one moment of individual brilliance, something that’s seriously lacking in modern football nowadays.
“It really pains me to sit and watch the kind of mediocre football dished out by the current crop of footballers campaigning in the country’s flagship league. One feels like falling asleep watching these boys going about their business. It’s no wonder matches are mostly played in empty stadiums these days.”