In a near carbon copy of previous generations, Tsumeb outfit Chief Santos has always produced some of the finest players in domestic football such as Celle Auchumeb, Archie Ochurub, Benzil Gotiseb, Croocks Casper, Hannes Louw, George Ochurub, Pele Damaseb and in recent years Gerros “The Bomber” Uri-Khob, Lucky Kakuva and Mohammed “Slice” Ouseb. The latter is arguably the club’s most recognizable and much adored product as he went on to represent the Brave Warriors with distinction to lead the Namibian senior football team to their first ever qualification for the African Cup of Nations in Burkina Faso in 1998.
In fact, the football crazy Ouseb clan has played a significant role in the upsurge of Santos. The quartet of Kaartjie, Townes, Richo and Pele were all great footballers in their own right while sister Dubahe was also a feared netballer during her younger days.
Their genes dictated they would be great athletes while the clan’s old man, Simon Ouseb, himself was a no-nonsense defender with Etosha Lions FC where he formed a rock steady defensive partnership with Namibian Prime Minister Dr Hage Geingob.
However, uncle Barnabas Ouseb was the real McCoy. The athletically built soft-spoken lanky BB, as he was affectionately known in local football circles, was your typical old-fashioned right wing, tormenting defences in the same vein as Brazilian legend Jairzihno.
Bra BB was blessed with all the credentials of a complete footballer – he packed dynamite in both feet, blistering pace and could get around his markers without having to shed an ounce of sweat through his amazing dribbling skills. Here is his full story.
WINDHOEK – Born from a family of four sons and three daughters in Fransfontein in 1950, Barnabas Ouseb spent a good chunk of his formative years in Tsumeb and this is where he started playing street football with local team Eleven Brothers.
He teamed up with young boys from the neigbourhood that included Issaskar Goaseb, Lefa Uwu-Khaeb, Frans “Archie” Ochurub and Celle Auchumeb.
“We assembled a very good team and would always compete in unofficial knockout tournaments in the Maize Triangle (Otavi, Tsumeb, Grootfontein) and Otjiwarongo as well,” reveals BB.
It was not long before he was snapped up by the town’s leading football club Etosha Lions under the guidance of former Orlando Pirates (South Africa) icon, Percy “Chippa” Moloi, who was shipped into the country by the late flamboyant football guru Herbert Conradie, to take the highly talented raw amateurs through the ropes way back in 1969.
Unlike many of his peers who had to restart their football careers in the upper level in the second teams, BB walked straight into the star-studded Etosha Lions first team and quickly established himself as one of the club’s most valuable squad members.
“It was a real eye opener for me because he (Moloi) taught us the finer points of football and how to maximize our god-given talent without wasting lots of time with the ball. He taught us to maximize and attack open space without the ball and many other basics like when to pass or when to keep the ball and most importantly, the art of ball possession.”
In the intervening years, BB spread his wings further when he went to advance his schooling at the popular Cornelius Goraseb High School in Khorixas. It was there where he rubbed shoulders with gifted footballers including Ananias “Bigman” Nanuseb and the school’s most adored footballer, Wilfred “Mini” Nawatiseb, also known as the “Little Bullterrier” for his uncompromising never-say-die attitude on the football field.
He later joined forces with the town’s leading club Robber Chanties where he played alongside formidable footballers in the mould of Eliphas Sabatha and Bonny Kruger.
As times went by, BB returned to his adopted town Tsumeb and rejoined Etosha Lions, which had in the meantime undergone a name change in the form of Chiefs Santos – as recommended by the departing Moloi.
With BB back in the fold, the Copper Town lads became major force to be reckoned with in domestic football as they demolished many teams with their newly found brand of one-touch football in various knockout tournaments across the country.
“I used to enjoy football to the fullest in those days because all the teams were blessed with exceptional players in their respective squads. A team like Black Marroko Chiefs (BMC) from Otjiwarongo always proved to be tricky customers to deal with, especially with the towering Ferdinand ‘O u Gold’ Nanuseb in their midst.
“That guy was a real toughie on the playing field, of course he was certainly not among the quickest of defenders but he had a football brain second to none while many forwards dreaded coming up against him because he never pulled out of 50/50 confrontations.”
Santos dominated football in the northern part of the country until the emergence of Chelsea Football Club but the Grootfontein outfit could also consider themselves lucky that their arrival on the scene coincided with the retirement of many Santos stalwarts including the great BB.
“We had a very good well balanced squad with great football administrators led by Stone Hoeseb, whose primary objective was to take the game of football to the next level unlike modern administrators who are hell bent on putting too much emphasis on money and seemingly unquenchable self-gratification ahead of loyalty.
“In our days, there was no big money in the game, we only competed in knockout cup tournaments – travelling long distances in sub-standard transport across the country but that did not bother us because we played for pride and loyalty for our team. BB formed a deadly combination in the Santos strike force boasting deadly shooter Celle Auchumeb, Engelhard Gariseb and Jacobus Kubas.
“It should be well understood that we never enjoyed the privilege of technical advisers and coaches but we managed to weather the storm and to compound matters, we never had reserves as the squad always consisted of eleven players only in most cases. Fortunately we never picked up any serious injuries as a result of our topnotch level of fitness.”
BB’s elder son, Damara Damaseb, a notable striker, followed in dad’s footsteps and had stints with both Santos and current MTC Premiership log leaders Tigers, while his eldest son also featured for Chief Santos.
By Carlos ‘CK’ Kambaekwa