Zebaldt Ngaruka
Former Kilus Eleven football players are calling on the government to consider renaming the Drimiopsis Primary school in the Omaheke region after the late Ovambanderu Traditional Authority chief, Kilus Nguvauva.
The call was made during the recent commemorative event held in Nguvauva’s honour at Omaueuozonjanda in the Epukiro constituency.
On the sidelines of the event, New Era caught up with former players and founders of Kilus Eleven, also known as KK football club, who said that besides football development, the late chief was an educator.
Paul Nependa Murangi, who was among the founders of the team, said Nguvauva was the first principal of the Drimiopsis Primary School after independence.
“It will be a big recognition for him if the school is named after the late chief. He helped many learners from various tribes and instilled discipline. Today, many of them are exemplary in various aspects of life,” noted Murangi, who was also one of the key KK players.
He said the current chief regional officer of the Omaheke Regional Council, Peka Semba, is also one of the founder members, and this call should be enforced at all government levels.
“Semba played a tremendous role in the formation of this team from Nguvauva Eleven to Kilus Eleven, and was a strategic person in our club,” Murangi alluded.
Sharing similar sentiments was Gebhard Kauami, who played as a right winger and a striker for the club.
He said the late Nguvauva contributed highly to the education of many footballers at Drimiopsis. Thus, he supported the idea of the school to be named after the fallen chief.
“As a teacher, our chief helped a lot of children to be accepted at Drimiopsis Secondary School, the now Mokganedi Tlhabanello High School, which was under the dominance of white administration,” emphasised Kauami.
The fact that Nguvauva liked sports forced many learners to play sports, especially football, and that helped them to stay away from using drugs, unlawful acts in school and finishing their education.
“This recognition is a way of thanking our chief for the generous work he did for us,” he added.
On his part, Justice Kavari, who was part of the management cadres of Kilus Eleven, said the novel Corona virus spoiled their planned recognition event for the late Nguvauva.
“We had planned this in our Whatsapp group, and sadly, he left us painfully, and it is very difficult for us to accept his departure”.
Kavari, who is the sports officer for the Okakarara constituency, said the renaming idea is an ideal one.
“This call should also go to the Gobabis municipality to name a street after the chief. We will do all the paperwork to forward to all stakeholders for his recognition,” assured Kavari.
“This will be a big recognition symbol, and all of us must work hard for this to be a reality. He groomed us to be responsible citizens, and most of us are now employed because of his efforts,” he added.
Adding to Kavari’s sentiment was Steven Veii, who said together with the recognition, a big football tournament must also be staged to pay homage to the chief.
“He really contributed a lot to the sports development in the region, and us former players will make sure his name will be kept alive,” he continued.
Veii said the late chief was not only developing sports, but the livelihoods of people around him.
“He helped me to acquire a farming plot in the Eiseb Block area, which is a sign of his generosity,” stated the former player.
Duiker Molenjane, who likewise played for the team, supported the renaming proposal.
“We have to work closely together with the Drimiopsis community for this great call. The chief was a prominent figure and was also a constituency councillor for Okorukambe, where Drimiopsis is a settlement,” echoed Molenjane, who was also a teacher at the Drimiopsis Primary School.
Kilus Eleven football team was established in 1990, comprising mainly school-going players from the Drimiopsis Secondary school in Omaheke’s Okorukambe constituency.