Leo Scholz was born in Windhoek, but spent the first years of his life in Mariental, where he started playing soccer in the backyard with his dad.
When it was time to start school, his family moved to a plot just outside Windhoek, before starting school at Deutscher Turn und Sportverein (DTS) in 2016 at 7-years-old, where his football journey began.
“I fell in love with the game by watching it on TV with my family and playing every day. Later, I developed my passion even more through regular training, league matches and tournaments,” Scholz said.
He realised football was more than just a hobby when he joined Collin Benjamin Scoccer (CBS) Talents in 2024 on a full scholarship.
According to Scholz, the training there was more intense and demanding than anything he ever experienced before. He is a goalkeeper, stating that it’s not always easy, but that’s part of why he enjoys it.
“You need to stay composed, read the game well, and command your team,” he said.
Scholz has developed into a sweeper-keeper, although his natural style is more of a shot-stopper. He believes his strength lies in making saves, whether it’s in one-on-one situations or long-range shots.
His proudest moment so far was making his Namibia U/17 national team debut a few weeks ago.
“It has always been one of my biggest dreams to represent my country in the sport I love,” Scholz said proudly.
One of his toughest matches was against the Kunene region in the 2026 Newspaper Cup final, his team, Erongo, was trailing 1-0 for most of the game after Kunene scored a penalty.
Despite that setback, they stayed focused, equalised in the 89th minute and eventually won the match.
“This experience taught me never to give up and to keep going even after making mistakes,” Scholz recalled.
He is currently working on improving his communication, commanding his box better and developing further as a sweeper-keeper.
Before any game, Scholz tries to relax and not overthink things. About two hours before kickoff, he begins to focus on what he needs to do, often listening to music and sometimes watching videos of goalkeepers he admires to get into the right mindset.
“My coaches at CBS Talents coach Collin, Henrico and Arnold have had the biggest influence on my football career. They have supported me, taught me a lot, and most importantly, always believed in me,” he said.
He further stated that the biggest misconception people have about his is that people think he plays soccer for fame or see his as egoistic or cocky, but in reality, he plays because it is his passion.
Soccer has taught the young goalie that even in difficult moments, like after making a mistake, he should never give up. Instead, he must believe in himself and keep pushing forward.
If he could train with anyone, it would be Manuel Neuer, his idol. Scholz believes he could learn a lot from him, especially because he admires his style of play.
According to Scholz, the MTC HopSol League has given him the most experience, as he has played many matches in it and gained valuable exposure. However, this year’s Nedbank Newspaper Cup has taken his game to another level as well.
His long-term goals include completing high school with good grades and attending university. He currently attends school at Deutsche Höhere Privatschule Windhoek in grade 11.
Scholz aims to become a professional footballer and hopefully play for the national team, Brave Warriors. Besides football, he enjoys spending time with friends, going fishing and visiting the farm. He has won multiple youth tournaments with both CBS and DTS. Last year, he won the MTC HopSol Youth League for the third time in his career (first with CBS), winning the league with his team.
He also recently won the Newspaper Cup with the Erongo regional team. In addition, he was awarded Best Goalkeeper in the league last year, conceding only three goals all season.
In 2023, he won Most Valuable Player for the MTC Youth League U/13 with DTS and was named Man of the Match in the quarterfinals of the Newspaper Cup.