2016-06-17Staff Report 2 " Following in the footsteps of his famous uncle, Norbertus Goraseb, aka ‘Norries’, and his celebrated old man Steve ‘Kalamazoo’ Stephanus, was always going to be a Mount Kilimanjaro to scale but the name of Sylvester Goraseb, better known as ‘Lolo’ in football circles, is not an unfamiliar one when people talk about Namibian football. Born in Namibia’s commercial capital Windhoek on 7th September 1974, the diminutive midfield general has certainly left his mark in domestic football and would always be spoken of as amongst the finest footballers to have ever graced our football fields. Like many other boys of his generation, the dribbling wizard started kicking plastic balls in street football and would play the game at the slightest provocation. Although he grew up in Windhoek’s largest residential township, Katutura, Lolo started his schooling at Nowak Primary School in the village of Tses before he returned to the city of lights to continue his schooling at A.I Steenkamp. Hardly out of his pair of shorts, the pocket-sized midfielder became a champion at the age of eleven when he steered his school team to victory in the Khomas Region Under-12s’ Schools Football League. His former Brave Warriors teammate, Mabos Ortmann, was one of the notable squad members among a rich generation of highly gifted youngsters in the star-studded A.I Steenkamp school team. New Era Sport caught up with the much-adored slippery attacking midfielder to relive his long and winding journey in football, including his desire to change the landscape of Namibian football with his hands-on involvement in the Players Union. A brainy footballer with an attractive marketing appeal, former Try Again and Black Africa football clubs’ nimble-footed midfielder Lolo Goraseb is one of very few footballers who managed to juggle his time between the spherical object and his academic aspirations, while playing at the highest level. His genes dictated that he would be a footballer, and a damn good one for that matter – after all, his old man Steve ‘Kalamazoo’ Stephanus is ranked among the most accomplished defenders of his generation, while his late uncle, the much adored ball juggler, Norries Goraseb, was in a class of his own as an attacking midfielder. Both footballers enjoyed successful stints with Katutura giants Orlando Pirates and were at the forefront when Pirates saw off eternal rivals Black Africa in an entertaining final to clinch the second edition of the now defunct popular Mainstay Cup in 1978, via Eric Muinjo’s lone strike. Although Lolo started playing competitive football with his school team in Tses, Mariental and in Keetmanshoop for Empelheim and Suiderlig high schools – he only rose to prominence when he joined ranks with Tseiblaagte outfit Try Again via Kronlein side Manchester United. Ironically, the slippery midfielder’s arrival at Black Africa was strange as he was scouted by former Black Africa players Lucky Boostander, Hans Haraseb and Lucky Richter, who persuaded him to join forces with the Gemengde-based outfit in 1992. “I came to Windhoek with Try Again for the relegation/promotion playoffs and being an Orlando Pirates supporter I was a bit reluctant to heed the call. Obviously I was a diehard Buccaneers fan and would always carry my uncle’s soccer togs, while I would also often play the role of ball boy at big matches.” And while his old man Steve, and Norries, were the star attractions in the Ghosts’ nest, Lolo’s old lady and granny were staunch Black Africa supporters. “I actually joined Black Africa at the time when my uncle Norries had sustained multiple career ending injuries in a car accident while on his way to Mariental for a football tournament. “In fact, it was very easy for me to make a decision because it was extremely painful to see my own kith and kin suffering after Pirates’ management dumped him like a bag of hot potatoes – the man was literally declared redundant and left to fend for himself.” Lolo’s arrival at BA coincided with the Gemengde-based outfit’s transformation, with a number of youngsters having been brought in to replace the old guard. Lolo made his debut for his new team in their 1- 0 win against kid brother Eleven Arrows at the old Katutura stadium. “I started the match on the substitutes’ bench and only came on in the second half but I must have done enough to convince the technical staff because from thereon I was always in the starting line-up.” However, his debut season was not a bed of roses as the team struggled dismally - escaping relegation by the skin of their teeth in their last final league match against Okahandja outfit Liverpool. Strangely, BA came from 2 goals down at the break to win the all-important match 4-2. “I vividly remember – management had to call the likes of Kandas Paulino, Fighter Louis and goalkeeper Dave Gaseb out of retirement to come and help the team.” The following season BA managed to rebuild, subsequently forming a formidable squad aided by the arrival of Bobby Samaria, Stanley Louw, Ronnie Kanalelo, Doc Jossop, Masepo Dausab, Paultjie Boostander and Gosbert Sikerete, to re-establish the club as a major force to be reckoned with in domestic football. “In all honesty, we assembled a great squad skippered by Indies Damaseb, who proved a fantastic team leader on and off the field.” That was the beginning of the much talked about Golden Generation, as the team went on to claim almost every available piece of silverware there was to be won. In the meantime, Lolo’s exploits on the football field did not go unnoticed as he was called up for the National Under-19 team, deservedly earning himself a place in the Olympic team, the Under-23s. He announced his arrival on the big stage with a brace in Namibia’s 2-1 win over Zimbabwe and went on to represent his country at the prestigious Lufthansa Youth Cup in Finland, where he was deservedly voted the best player of the tournament. Next stop was the annual Cosafa Youth Cup in Swaziland. There, Lolo walked away with the most valuable player award. In 1994, the dribbling wizard was included in Peter Uberjahn’s newly assembled Brave Warriors side as the German national sought to blend young and energetic players with the seniors. He made his senior debut against Mali, which game the Warriors won 2-1 and also played in Namibia’s historic 1-all draw against the visiting Ivory Coast. He was also part of the Warriors’ victorious side that beat Liberia 2-1 in Monrovia where he played a blinder. “I will never forget that match – the great George Weah came to me after the match and invited me out for dinner that day.” Lolo had arrived and became the toast of the rejuvenated Warriors side that tore opponents apart at the feared Windhoek Independence Stadium to the extent that the venue was dubbed the graveyard, as visiting teams found it extremely hard to get a result there. In the meantime, Lolo had to ward off some unwanted attention from then Kaizer Chiefs chief scout Stanley “Screamer” Thabalala, who was keen on luring the nimble-footed midfielder to Naturena. “I had to carefully weigh my options because I was in the middle of my tertiary studies and had to choose between football and education – so I chose the latter and have absolutely no regrets whatsoever about the decision.” Back at club level, Lolo played an instrumental role as BA made a clean sweep winning four league titles, complimented by triumph in the Castle Cup final against Liverpool. “I always wanted to play professional football and had trials in Spain, Finland, and Germany, but unfortunately the moves never materialized because of Namibia’s low placing in the FIFA rankings as well as the European citizenship issue. “Eventually I had to make a massive career decision and opted to remain home and complete my academic aspirations. Nevertheless, I still treasure the appreciation from local football fans and the challenges we went through as a team.” [caption id=""attachment_89204"" align=""alignnone"" width=""195""] Loyal… Lolo supporting his beloved BA during a Champions League preliminary match against Kaizer Chiefs at the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg in 2014.[/caption] " 2016-06-17Staff Report 2
