By Carlos “CK”
Kambaekwa
WINDHOEK – In days gone by, football clubs were established strictly along tribal lines and the now defunct Juvenile Football Club represented the Ovaherero/Ovambanderu-speaking community in the old location.
With recreational facilities virtually non-existant, football and boxing took centre-stage with the spherical object the dominant sport used by the majority of the natives in the old location to while away time and mingle freely among each other during the height of apartheid.
Juvenile was born out of frustration by some of the finest footballers in the neigbourhood, who defected from Morning Stars, Heavy Batteries and Young Standard in an effort to form one strong side that could challenge the likes of Tigers, Thistles, Cape Wanderers, Pirates (dolam) Ramblers and Ilili Boys.
The rocky football pitch of the Rhenisch Herero School was the club’s unofficial home ground. In the absence of any organised football structures, football clubs resolved to engage in exhibition games and competed fiercely in knockout cup competitions around the country.
As fate would have it, Juvenile died a natural death when the majority of players left to further their academic aspirations in neigbouring South Africa, while others left to pursue their studies at the popular Augustineum Secondary School near Okahandja.
Although Juvenile went the inevitable path of the dinosaur, the club left a long-lasting legacy and one player who was head and shoulder above the rest was doubtlessly the left-footed raw winger from Hochfeld, Mbauka, to be rechristened “Kaptein” by his adoring fans and teammates.
Juvenile was the envy among the Otjiherero-speaking folk with Mbauka calling the shots from either the his favourite left wing position or a false centre forward where he tormented the opposition at will.
Many sharpshooters were to follow in the his footsteps, among them, George Kanima Hoveka, Smody Katjimune Kamaheke, Gerson Kaputji Kuhanga, Pule Tjombe and Mannetjie Kaimu, but those in the know are adamant that the late Mbauka was a cut above the rest and the real deal.
“That boy was highly gifted and a menace to many goalkeepers. He possessed an unbelievable educated left foot and could shoot and score goals from awkward angles,” recalls former Tigers stalwart Tommy Akwenye.
“Mbauka was a phenomenal class, a highly gifted athlete with speed, an eye for goal and very skillful. He had a unique way of killing the ball at full speed as can be attested by his trademark fashion in which he would bring the ball down while in full flight,” claims football fanatic Ephraim Kasupi Mieze.
Teams like Speed Fire and Cherry Boys were among his victims as he bombarded their defense with hot shots from range.
He will be remembered for the day when his cracking left-footed goal sent the much-fancied Thistles Football Club packing in the final of a knockout cup match at the old location in 1951 – leaving Thistles’ acrobatic shot-stopper Sonny-Boy Bailey catching field.
The late Mbauka might not have lived long enough to unleash his full potential but his football legacy will live long in the memories of those who had the opportunity to watch him in action. May his soul rest in eternal peace.