Stepping out of an icon’s shadow was never going to be an easy task to fulfill but the raw and young Samfried-Muuonge Katjihingua, also known as Bra Mokes among his vast circle of friends, defied the odds stacked against him to prove his critics wrong.
It’s of course every young footballer’s desire to compete against the best players in topflight football, and when the late Hungry Lions tough-as-steak defender Manuel Mendos failed to recover in time from a knee injury ahead of a crucial quarterfinal clash against rivals African Stars in a knockout tournament at the Kuisebmond Stadium in 1984 – it was left to the versatile Muuonge to fill the void.
The humorous young lad was converted from his favourite left wing position to an improvised centre back and certainly did enough as he held his own to keep the trio of Stars’ marauding forwards Marques Kamuserandu, Juku Tjazuko and Jack Meroro at bay.
Muuonge put in a 5-star display that saw the teams finishing level at the end of 90 minutes, only for the gutsy Lions to bow out in the dreaded penalty shootout, but the young makeshift defender had done enough to earn kudos from his team-mates.
A one-team man, the versatile Muuonge established himself as a formidable centre back capable of launching attacks from the back with the mid-table Lions in the country’s flagship league and was arguably one of the most underrated footballers of his generation.
WINDHOEK – The now defunct Katutura outfit Hungry Lions Football Club was renowned for its customary no-nonsense approach and hard-tackling style, which left many opposing teams having butterflies running riot in their bellies whenever they had to face the unfashionable outfit.
The team always rotated a number of defenders starting from Shabby Rukero, Godwin Muvangua, Sergius Tjazerua, Muinjoo Kotjipati, Shakes Kandenge, Rep Kanjaa, Manuel Mendos, Veraa Katuuo, Kandjambi Veseevete, Usiel Kotjipati, Moripe Muundjua and Popele Kamatoto, but none possessed the ability demonstrated by Muuonge.
He was comfortable on the ball, had quick feet, blessed with a brilliant first touch and great timing, was clean in the tackle, good in the air and above all, his vision was second to none.
Born in Okakarara in 1962, Muuonge who celebrated his 52nd birthday yesterday, started playing street football in the dusty streets of Katutura alongside boyhood buddies Billy Tuahepa, Hauii Kamaundju, and the Wimmerth siblings Abelka and Ono.
At the age of 11, Muuonge relocated to Okahandja when his old man Sam, who worked for South West Engineering (SWE) was transferred to the Garden Town in 1973. Young Mokes was enrolled at the Aurora Primary School holed up in the Nau-Aib residential area and continued playing football where he nailed himself a place in the school’s football team.
The football-crazy youngster teamed up with other boys from the neighbourhood to revive the ailing fortunes of Morocco City Stars, a football club of youngsters that was sliding dangerously towards the path of the dinosaur.
Young talented footballers led by Jackson Kandukira, Toney Meroro, Putji Tjaveondja, the Tjazerua cousins Justus and Mbahimua, Marama Ngahahe, Fares Katjiku and Muuaa Siririka formed the spine of the team.
Leading local club Battle Boys FC would also come calling for Muuonge’s services and the youngster featured sparingly for the Garden Town’s glamour football club playing in knockout tournaments in towns such as Arandis, Omaruru and Karibib.
It was only fitting that he would join Windhoek City upon his arrival at the Augustineum High School in 1980. He then found himself in the company of highly gifted young footballers in the mould of Juku Tjazuko, Boas Tjingaete, Sugar Mbakumbua, Peter Haukambe, Lefa Ndjiruete, Bartho, Charles Ngozu and Petoorua Mate,
Unlike dozens of youngsters who struggled to make their presence felt in the maiden term, Muuonge made an immediate impact and immediately nailed himself a place in the starting line-up of the school’s first team. Like the majority of his team-mates in the school squad, Muuonge was obliged to feature for African Stars’ second strings whenever time permitted.
He caught the eye of the late charismatic chairman of Hungry Lions Football Club, Ben Uanivi, who managed to persuade the versatile winger to join forces with the Lions.
“It was much easier for me to slot into the team’s pattern of play and feel at home because I grew up with most of the guys like Billy, Hauii, Justice and Lesley during our days as street footballers,” recalls Muuonge.
Muuonge was in the starting line-up when Hungry Lions claimed victory in the annual Easter Knockout Cup defeating Chief Santos in the final via Justice Basson’s late strike at the SKW Stadium in 1985.
He also won several knockout tournaments in the lower division with the Lions and was a valuable member of the invincible Lions outfit that finished the entire season unbeaten, only drawing a single match en route to winning promotion to the elite Central Division One League in 1982.
Since he lived in Okahandja, Bra Mokes could only join his team mates on match days but this did not affect his overall fitness and unrivalled level of commitment with his name always among the first on the team sheet.
However, it was during a particular Easter Weekend at the Kuisebmond Stadium in Walvis Bay that young Muuonge made his mark in topflight football.
“We were playing in a knockout tournament and the competition was very tough in those days and after we came from two goals down to dispatch the much-fancied Explorer Eleven in their own backyard in our opening match – many people took note when we came up against our fiercest rivals African Stars in our next match.
“Make no mistake, we had a well-balanced squad of very committed and dedicated players with the tricky Foresta Nicodemus leading our firing line. That boy was dangerous and could tear any defence apart on his day. I consider myself extremely lucky to have played alongside him.
“Foresta was on song on that particular day and we were just unlucky to lose on penalties against Stars because we completely dominated the tie and had them against the ropes – but that’s the cruelty of football.”
Bra Mokes joined Liverpool Football Club in his adopted hometown where he played briefly before hanging up his boots for good while still at the pinnacle of his flourishing football career to concentrate on his newly found career as a draughtsman.
The boyish looking Bra Mokes still has fond memories of his days on the football pitch and regards former Black Africa playmaker Lucky Boostander as the greatest footballer he ever came across during his generation’s playing days and also rates former team-mate Toney Meroro highly.
“Football was very competitive during our time and I’m yet to witness any local football team showing the same mettle and high level of competitiveness of the great Chelsea squad featuring the Francis brothers Tigers and Richo.”
By Carlos ‘CK’ Kambaekwa