By Carlos “CK” Kambaekwa
WALVIS-BAY – History reveals that Blue Waters FC is the second oldest football entity in Namibia, formerly South West Africa (SWA) after Tigers Football Club.
During its infant years, the club used to travel inland to engage in exhibition matches against other clubs in towns such as Omaruru, Otjiwarongo, Karibib, Swakopmund, Usakos, Okahandja, Tsumeb and Windhoek.
With the emergence of Namib Woestyn, Eleven Arrows and in later years, Kuisebmond exciting outfit Explorer Eleven – competition became very tough but the Birds preserved to remain one of the top clubs from that neck of the woods.
The name – Blue Waters
Senior migrants from Marovians (Monrovia – Liberia) residing in the old location, brainstormed and resolved to adopt the name Blue Waters at a meeting.
Coincidentally, Daniel Shimbambi also proposed the same name Blue Waters as the two names were submitted at the gathering at his house with the elders.
However, when the two delegations met to decide on the actual name, they realised that the proposed names by the two groups were similar.
The two groups decided to stage a football match between the two indigenous teams, with the winner to claim ownership of the name, Blue Waters, while the loser will be known as Never Blue.
On February 13, 1936, the two unnamed teams selected teams to engage in the decisive football match for the rights to use the name Blue Waters.
The Owambos won the match to create the birth of Blue Waters, while the losing team was made to settle for the name of Never Blue, later to be changed to Navy Blue.
Club colours
The name Blue Waters derived from a political thinking of the blue sea and the white foam spit by the waves, leading to the embedded colours of Blue Waters’ blue and white strippes.
The very first squad members were; Shimbambi, the late popular Mbaqanga saxophone blower Johannes “Warmgat” Mureko, Kornelius Korere, Edward King, George William, Tifu Nendongo, Nikodemus, Johannes Kanene, Ellihud Munjere, Erastus Hanguala and Tobias Akwenye,
In 1940, still under the stewardship of Shimbambi and other seniors in the neigbourhood, Blue Waters had great footballers in their armoury, led by agile shot stopper Patrick Nendongo, Ellihud Munjere, Tobias Akwenye (captain) Jakob Ingo, Petrus ‘Shando’ Netjatja, Sakaria Johannes; Theo Shikongo; Sem Dawid, Sakaria ‘Katatu’ Nekwaya, Johannes ‘Tifu’ Nendongo, Joël Amadhila, Tives Tomas and Walter Nendongo, Petrus ‘Menya’ Mushimba, Johannes ‘Shikoko’ Mushimba, Frans Shitima, Fillemon Mupupa, Simson ‘Takata’ Nikodemus, aka ‘Double-Kick’.
Blue Waters 1945
In the 1950’s the coastal giants attracted a large number of supporters to their exhibition games on weekends, with stadiums always filled up to full capacity, earning them the slogan “Blue Waters Never Lose ”.
Players that featured prominently in the early 50s were: Daniel Mutilifa, Simon Ndemula, Melechie Ndemula, Mathews Kayele, Jacob Haukongo,
Fillemon Mupupa, Herman Makoba, Lukas Shilongo, Petrus Katuuo, Joël Khakhane, Pinehas Katoteli, Johannes Amadhila, Michael Nujoma, Jafet Nelulu,
Jafet Nehoya, Isai Abraham Hangula, Fillipus Mushimba, Paulus Kwedhi, John Katsman, Cosmos Egumbo.
During those early years, not much focus was placed on who attends training. The selectors rather put emphasis on the players’ physical strength, ability and mental fitness as criteria for selection.
Blue Waters enjoyed the upper hand in many of their encounters against the likes of Springbok, Red Fires, Heavy Blue, Merlin, Angeline FC (from the Topnaar community), T-Shell, Cavaller, Fortune 45, Railway and Namib Woestyn.
However, Woestyn emerged as the strongest opponent to Blue Waters in later years notably between 1953-1959, with most of the encounters between the two coastal giants always ending in draws or narrow victories for either team.
Early Trademark
The Birds’ early trademark was the embroidery of the clearly-marked V-sign on their T-shirts, describing their courage for “VICTORY”.
In the intervening years, the seasiders supplied the bulk of playing personnel when the apartheid authorities relaxed the rules albeit temporarily to allow blacks pitting their strength against their supposedly superior white counterparts in 1975.
Ranga Lucas, Lemmy Lazarus, Kaputji Kuhanga, Mathew Amadhila, Riva Jakonia and Bonettie Neilenge, were all valuable members of the South West Africa (SWA) Black Eleven.
The club suffered a massive blow when a significant chunk of its best footballers left in a huff to join forces with the newly formed Eleven Arrows baosting the crème of the de la creme of Walvis-Bay.
History reveals that Blue Waters FC is the second oldest football entity in Namibia, formerly South West Africa (SWA) after Tigers Football Club.
During its infant years, the club used to travel inland to engage in exhibition matches against other clubs in towns such as Omaruru, Otjiwarongo, Karibib, Swakopmund, Usakos, Okahandja, Tsumeb and Windhoek.
With the emergence of Namib Woestyn, Eleven Arrows and in later years, Kuisebmond exciting outfi Explorer Eleven – competition became very tough but the Birds preserved to remain one of the top clubs from that neck of the woods.
With time passing, the team recruited great footballers in the mould of Mburumba Kerina, Oscar Norich-Tjahuha and Charles Kauraisa from African Stars (Windhoek) to strengthen their already star-studded squad.
As the old guard faced out, in came the golden generation of hard-galloping midfielder, Dacosta Philemon, Jerry Ekandjo, Lukas Hipondoka, Ringo Nakanuku, Jerry Shikongo, Zondi Amadhila, all formidable athletes who brought a new dimension to the team’s style of play.
Nevertheless, many football pundits believe the next generation led by Ranga Lucas, Riva Jakonia, Kapuii Angula, Lemmy Lazarus, Mathew Amadhila, Immanuel Kamuserandu, Julius Stephanus, Simon ‘Motwa” Mwandingi, Boy-Boy Ndjadila, Kaputji Kuhanga and Bonneti Niilenge was the real deal.
Subsequently, the seasiders produced a number of football’s greats such as the Muatunga sibblings, Koko, Phello, Ranga and Klein Phello, Bazooka Shipanga, Enos Petrus, Cruyff Kudulu to keep the club tick. Foreign footballers like Armando Pedro and Steven Maposa also came on board to keep the Birds afloat.
However, none of the above-mentioned footballers have played a more influential role than stocky midfielder, Koko Muatunga. Had Independence arrived a bit earlier, the latter could have easilly gone to play professional football anywehere in the world.
Pocket sized midfielder Koko, was one of those great players who unfortunately missed out representing their native land in the popular annual South African Provincial Currie Cup as they were kept out of the squad by greats Doc Hardley, Oscar Mengo, Ivo De Gouveia, Pieces Damaseb, Joseph Eiseb and Lucky Boostander.
Although Blue Waters endured relegation in the 2008 season, the club made a quick return to familiar territory, winning immediate promotion back to the elite league under the stewardship of former winger Lucky “Wire” Shipanga, the following season.
The Birds boasts a remarkable record of four league titles accompanied by one NFA Cup victory and have appeared in the lucrative NFA Cup final more than any other team in domestic football in post Independent Namibia – certainly a remarkable resume.
In modern times, one player who surely caught the attention of those who apppreciate good entertaining football is arguably stylish fullback, Jason “Khumalo” Petrus.
The strongly built bow-legged fullback possessed that rare ability to keep fans on the edge of their seats whenever he was in possession of the ball or when he executes his teling long range deliveries, reminiscent of the late Isaac “Shakes” Kungwane’s killer passes.
The former Brave Warriors dreadlocked defender was a genuis with a spewhrical object glued to his magic feet and a marvel to watch and many neutral football fans were always prepared to part ways with their hard earned moolah to go and watch him play.