Biological offspring of the iconic late Damara Gaob Dawid Goreseb, ‘Bro Zombies’ was destined for greatness ever since he was a snot neus ‘Pikinini’ at the Catholic Mission Primary School in Usakos, holed up in the mountainous Erongo region. His old man Paramount Chief of the Damara ethnic group, the multilingual Gaob Goreseb, an organic intellectual was the designated translator for the German and Otjiherero vernaculars during the apartheid era, indeed a great man of substance.
Born Alfeus Prince Goreseb on the 6th of June 1944 in a village near Okombahe, Bro Zombies was posted to Usakos to begin his elementary education at the Catholic Mission learning institution for young Bantu (natives) children.
Interestingly, unlike many boys his age, Bro Zombies only started playing serious football in organised structures when he went to the St Joseph’s Secondary School (Dobra) located north-east of Namibia’s commercial capital Windhoek.
Strangely, ‘Bro Zombies’ was stationed between the sticks (goalie) for the school’s senior football team playing alongside some big name stars such as the Black Africa greats Benjamin ‘Spokes’ Tibinyane, Godhard ‘Black’ Katjivazeua Kangootui, Ludwig Katjipu, and the talented Brown brothers Jack and Petrus.
His arrival on the bi stage coincided with the formation of Eleven Kangaroos later to be renamed Black Africa, a team formed by South African migrant workers in search of a sense of belonging. The new kid on the block went on an aggressive recruitment campaign targeting the best young talent from Dobra. Though his equally gifted football playing brother Aloyse ‘!Nondo’ Goreseb found refuge with Black Africa, Bro Zombies went in the opposite direction and joined old timers African Stars Football Club alongside his buddy Gabes Xoagub.
‘Eish…obviously coming from Okombahe, a kind of multicultural society that houses Damaran and Ovaherero folks, I became close friends with a significant number of Otjiherero learners at the Hostel. As a result, they somehow managed to convince me to try my luck at African Stars where I played with my eternal buddy Xoagub but later moved to Orlando Pirates. Nevertheless, I must confess I really enjoyed my abbreviated lodging at Stars,’ recalls Bro ‘Zombies’.
At Pirates, the speedy winger was duly deployed in the firing line alongside the devastating goal poachers Narib, Gustav ‘Bassieman’ Jimmy-Naruseb, Michael ‘Ou Pine’ Pienaar, Daniel Koopman and Willem ‘Fosbury’ Eichab forming a deadly attacking combination in the Bucs attack.
Back in the day, left footed athletes were a scares commodity in the football industry but if you found one, they were exceptional. ‘Bro Zombies’ packed dynamite in his left foot, jaw dropping dribbling skills, amazing endurance and unbelievable eye for goal.
‘Bro Zombies’ was your typical complete old fashioned winger who never shied away from rolling with the punches whenever the situation demanded. His well taken goals and countless propelled Pirates to victories in several high profile knockout cup tournaments.
It’s now a well documented secret that Pirates ruled domestic football for many years in the mid-60s and late 70s. The club unearthed great players who became household names domestically and internationally.
The likes of Hendrik ‘Doc’ Hardley, ‘Lemmy’ Narib, Steve Stephanus, ‘Killer’ Kamberipa, ‘Alu’ Hummel, Ananias ‘Bigman’ Naruseb, Paul Gawarib !Uirip, Norries Goreseb, Daniel Koopman, Benjamin ‘Kleintjie’ Gaseb, Erich Muinjo, Willem Eichab, Japhet Hellao, Gotty Gurirab, Axab Gowaseb, Lewa Awaseb, Blue Karimbue, Benny Petrus, Patrick Jaegger, were a rare breed of phenomenal athletes.
Upon retiring from playing competitive football, Bro Zombies found himself a slave at the Post Office and also tried his hand at building construction in Khomasdal before quietly retreating to his native village Okombahe en route to Khorixas. “To be brutally honest I could just not adjust to the fast life of Windhoek, it was too overcrowded and a bit unsafe to lead a decent care free lifestyle in such a toxic environment.”
The prodigal son finally found permanent shelter in Khorixas and got hitched to his longtime sweetheart Elsie Goreses, who bore him a trident of healthy ‘Smallies’, a pair of daughters and one son. He also fathered five children from previous relationships.