By Engel Nawatiseb
TSUMEB
After an absence of almost two years from the Premier League, Tsumeb-based Chief Santos’ management can now look forward to a rejuvenated team following the introduction of changes in the leadership structure of the team.
The town’s prominent business personality Edgar da Fonsica is the new man at the helm after he replaced Alfeus Benjamin as chairperson of the former Namibian champions following the latter’s resignation due to official commitments.
Amongst the old guard that continue to throw their weight fully behind the team are the likes of Peter Shaanika, Karl Damaseb, Kaartjie Ouseb and few others mainly operating from Windhoek.
Santos’ unexpected exit from the country’s elite league two seasons ago came at a heavy price as the Copper Town boys also lost their long time financial backers, Consolidated Sugar Industries (Marathon Sugar).
The sponsorship withdrawal made it extremely difficult for the Club’s survival in the rigours of the country’s second tier division last season that saw them narrowly losing out on promotion to the elite league.
Da Fonsica is optimistic that Santos will redouble its efforts to return to the elite league next season and noted that a high level of loyalty could be observed amongst those players who remained with the club since its exit from the league.
“We need such positively inspired soldiers to take the team back where it rightly belongs, and I am a happy person to be associated with Santos. I will assist wherever I can to ensure that top flight football returns to Tsumeb for football fans to get their fair share of the game,” he stated.
Amongst his priorities, Da Fonsica said, he will invite Angolan outfit Primeiro De Agosto to engage Chief Santos early next year aimed at putting their strength to the test and to encourage his players to get on par with the level of their counterparts in other parts of the African continent.
“Furthermore, we will invite shareholders to come to Santos, and even committee members will be obliged to contribute financially and be ready to take ownership of the team, that’s how it should work. One cannot claim collective victory when others are working hard without any assistance.
It is a people’s club but we must all contribute in our own way,” lamented Da Fonsica.
The team’s stalwart Secretary-General Julius Gaeseb told New Era that Da Fonseca’s leadership has immediately put the turnaround strategy in place for the club, starting with the beefing up of manpower (management) and the full utilization of the club by acquiring an office for the club to be manned eight hours a day.
“Attractive incentives for players were also put in place and scouting for potential new recruits has started in earnest with some players having put pen to paper already. Some former players are also expected to rejoin the club.”
Gaeseb also announced that the team’s most successful coach and discarded Brave Warriors’ stand-in coach Max Johnson has been persuaded to take over the hot seat again as head coach.
The soft-spoken and vastly knowledgeable mentor has reportedly already resumed duties with the club he played for as a no-nonsense defender in his heyday and has been assisting the club with the scouting of new players.
“Max Johnson faces a big challenge ahead as his side mainly comprises of young and relatively inexperienced players.
“We are confident that the scenario will create a winning formula because Johnson has a tremendous passion for the game of football and will not allow anybody to fail him in his leading ‘pastime hobby’,” added Gaeseb.
The current management comprises of the following members:
President: Peter John Shaanika
Vice President: Freddy Guiseb
Chairperson: Edgar Da Fonseca
Vice-Chairman: Cosmos Augumeb
Secretary-General: Julius Gaeseb
Vice Secretary: Erick Kheimseb
Treasurer: Immanuel Awene
Chairperson Supporters’ Club: Karl Damaseb
The official launch of the new-look Santos is slated for late January next year.
Sources close to the club also pointed to the fact that the club will be renamed after “Eclipse” a company belonging to Da Fonsica but the management preferred not to speculate on the name before the official launching.
“There are several activities lined up for next year, including fundraising events to be headed by the supporters’ club.