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Home / Samaria back in familiar territory… Reds’ prodigal son returns home
Samaria back in familiar territory… Reds’ prodigal son returns home
2015-07-29Staff Report 2 Windhoek The old adage that one man’s death is another one’s bread is playing its hand in the customary coaches’ merry-go-round in the country’s flagship football league, the MTC Premiership. Barely 24-hours after the shock resignation of head coach, Woody Jacobs, Katutura glamour football club African Stars, wasted little time to strike while the iron is hot by reappointing former double-winning mentor Bobby Samaria, with immediate effect. Samaria returns to the club after a four-year hiatus and his arrival has been welcomed with open arms by the club’s management. “We can confirm without an iota of doubt that the club has activated its reunion with Bobby Samaria on a three-year contract,” a visibly animated Stars chairman, Patrick Kauta, announced. The former Eleven Arrows and Black Africa midfield general is no stranger to the club and used to be the hard-to-please Reds diehards’ blue-eyed-boy after steering the club to unprecedented achievements during his tenure at the club. Under Samaria’s astute stewardship, the Reds won back-to-back league titles, including the elusive cup double in the 2008/2009 campaign - certainly no mean feat. A third place finish the following season was considered a massive failure by any standards and Samaria’s whirlwind romance with the Reds came to a premature halt. The reigning Namibian champions parted ways with Jacobs following a frosty romance that was apparently triggered by a request by players and technical staff that the club consider diverting a portion of the hefty cash prize of N$350,000 – derived from the just-concluded Dr Hage Geingob Cup – towards the playing personnel. However, the club would have none of that and dug its heels in the sand, telling the aggrieved parties in no uncertain terms where to get off. Jacobs retaliated by submitting his resignation in a bid football pundits believe was a deliberate ploy to force the club’s hand. “He (Jacobs) actually shot himself in the foot, as his action only simplified management’s wish to usher him through the exit door – hence the club’s decision not to engage him for further discussions on the issue,” said an insider. In the meantime, word reached the New Era Sport crew that Woody could soon have new paymasters in the shape of coach-less Stars’ eternal rivals, Black Africa, though both parties are pleading ignorance of the ongoing speculation about Jacobs’ imminent move to the Gemendge outfit. 2015-07-29Staff Report 2
