A salted veteran of the liberation struggle against the oppressors, steadfast political activist, educator par excellence and noted footballer who cut his teeth in the domestic setup with boyhood team Tigers Football Club back in the day before skipping his native land. 

Onesmus Shikongo Akwenye gave up his then plum job as a schoolteacher at the Rhenisch Herero School at Windhoek’s old location going into exile to join the Swapo led liberation army against the much despised Apartheid regime in 1964. Back in the day, ‘Onnies’ (schoolteachers) were highly respected members of society and held in high esteem under the native Bantu administration.   

Apart from his political aspirations, the soft spoken gentleman was a formidable athlete who marshalled ‘Ingwe’s rearguard with confidence and maturity way belying his tender age. Shikongo was always a regular starter for the invincible Tigers outfit that brushed their opponents aside at will in the hotly contested popular knockout cup tournaments staged across the country. 

He was the designated sheriff keeping an eagle’s eye over the playing personnel piloting the smooth sailing ‘Ingwe’ boat while overseeing a star-studded squad made up of some of the greatest ‘footies’ of all time in the following sequence; 

Arguably the greatest attacker of his generation, the boy with the delicious left foot Timotheus ‘Times’ Mwetuyela, fellow Copper town import Zebulon ‘Honnie’ Ochurub, Licias ‘Coloured’ Kakololo, Heinrich ‘Dakolo’ Haininga, dribbling wizard Seth Uirib, and younger brother Ferdinand ‘Slippery Fox’ Akwenye, certainly no mean feat. 

The much adored versatile defensive midfielder was very much in demand and would sporadically feature for bitter rivals African Stars as guest player. Uncle to the highly gifted football playing siblings Brian Isaacs, Dicky, and Bolla Akwenye. 

Interestingly, his old man Tobias Akwenye was a founder member of coastal giants Blue Waters Football Club in 1936 before the family trekked to the city of bright lights (Windhoek) in search of greener pastures. 

Shikongo was the elder brother to the equally dangerous football playing kid brother Ferdinand ‘Buti Ferre’, a devastating forward who used to be a menace to many goalkeepers, while younger brother Johnny was an astute football administrator. 

The latter was at the forefront when eight of the country’s disgruntled leading football clubs dumped the white dominated South West Africa Football Association (SWAFA) to form the breakaway National Super Soccer League at the beginning of the 1985 season. 

Youngest sister Annatjie Akwenye-Tobias was a formidable athlete in her own right, excelling in the netball discipline. 

A Jack of all trades, off the pitch uncle Shikongo was a veteran political activist who dedicated his entire life to the liberation struggle for the ultimate betterment of his subjects sacrificing a then ‘reasonable paycheck’ for a native Bantu in exchange for his lifelong desire to attain justice for all. 

After spending almost three decades in exile where he took aspiring students through the ropes academically in various refugee camps beyond Namibian borders, the bookish fellah retreated to his native land in 1989 to enjoy the fruits of hard work and sacrifices. He took up a senior position in the democratic government passing on his vast expertise in the area of education. 

Unlike many of his peers and former teammates who turned their backs on the game that has made them household names upon reaching the sunset of their football careers, Shikongo teamed up with former Tigers teammate Nandos ‘The Cat’ Mbako, assisting their beloved ‘Ingwe’ in the administration department. 

The energetic retired ‘footie’ served as an advisor in the Elders Council whilst ‘The Cat’ was roped in as team manager. Knowing Ingwe’s traditional playing style and culture, the streetwise old Foxes immediately knuckled down to some serious business instilling a sense of belief and confidence in the young brigade.

Their notable presence in the dressing room propelled the rejuvenated youthful side to greater heights. Tigers won the coveted Namibia Football Association (NFA) Cup in 1995/1996, Metropolitan Champ of Champions Trophy 1996, FNB Cup 2009, NFA Cup 2015, silver medalists in the coveted NFA Cup 1994/97/8/99.