WINDHOEK – Local football lovers will be taken down memory lane with a mouth-watering exhibition match featuring both sets of surviving players from the historic South West Africa White and Black Eleven encounter in 1975, paving the way for the inevitable introduction of multi-racial football.
Exactly 38 years ago, authorities gave in to the popularity of the beautiful game of football when they sanctioned a friendly football match between a SWA white eleven and their black counterparts at the packed to the rafters Suidwes Rugby Stadium, to be renamed Hage Geingob Stadium in the intervening years.
The sold-out clash of the titans ended in a six-goal thriller after the Celle Auchumeb- inspired Black Eleven ran rings around their more disciplined and composed opponents to take a 3-2 lead in the dying minutes of an otherwise entertaining match that saw both sets of players fighting tooth and nail for supremacy.
The White Eleven were awarded a highly disputed spot kick by the white referee in charge. To compound matters, goalkeeper Bonnetti Nilenge saved the spot kick only for the referee to order a retake and when the penalty taker missed the target from the subsequent attempt, another retake was ordered allowing the Whites to draw level (3-3) with virtually the last kick of the match.
Global United and Godwana in conjunction with New Era Publication Corporation have teamed up to recall surviving members from both teams to dust off their togs in an effort to revive the ‘good old days’. Event organizers are planning to stage the exhibition match in March next year and include a variety of cultural events.
The following footballers will represent the White Eleven: Peter Radecke, Jeff Marting, Sammy Alfheim, Gernot Ahrens, Bobby Ihlein, Gunter Hellinghausen, Werner Sasse, Hasso Ahrens, Peter Gurney, Ivo De Gouveia, Siggy Hacker, Don Corbett, Wolfgang Fleischhammel, Ashley Moss, Heiner Beiter, Bobby Craddock, Carlos De Gouveia, Herbert Lohmeir, Ronny Dagnin and Puffy Rahn. Black Eleven: Bonnetti Nilenge, E Tjazamo, Archie Ochurub, Celle Auchumeb, Max Johnson, Mathews Amadhila, Storm Khom-Khaiseb, Brazello Haoseb, Ranga Lucas, Gawarib Urib, Nerab Gariseb, Riva Jakonia, Ace Tjirera, Steve Stephanus, Ambrossius Vyff, Oscar Mengo, Albert Tjihero and Ananias Nanuseb.
By Carlos Kambaekwa