A well-groomed product of the conveyer belt of the now-famous football architect Meester Willem Hans’ well drilled machine at the unofficial ‘School of Excellence’ football wise, the revered St. Joseph’s Catholic Mission Secondary School better known as Döbra, where the beautiful game of football was the common denominator amongst her subjects, young Semba is certainly destined for greatness.
The lanky defender started his elementary education at the reputable learning institution, rubbing shoulders with highly-gifted youngsters, marshalled by Steven ‘Falcao’ Hochobeb, Ectos Cloete, Rudolf ‘Travolta’ Kakuritjire, Babie Gawaseb, Terra Kamau and many others.
“We were highly motivated and in absolute awe with the talents showcased by elder boys such as Albert Veziruapi Tjihero, Sebastian ‘Stu’ Damaseb, Anton ‘Stouter’ Ochurub, Gabriel ‘Gabes’ Dausab, Max Johnson, Albert Karumbu Kahiha and Maximus ‘Max’ Elago. They really inspired us to emulate their amazing performance and try our best to reach their level,” recalled Semba.
After completing his primary education at Döbra, Semba enrolled at the Immanuel Shifidi Secondary School in Katutura.
The hard tackling defender was drafted straight away into the school’s senior football team, playing alongside the likes of Carpio Kauendji, Nelson Kavetjiua Muundjua, Gerson Goreseb, Bobby Tjiho, Mike Haimbodi, Ngororo ‘Bra Webb’ Katiko, Jimmo Masaka, Ningo Kandjii and Patrick ‘Mandla’ Kaizemi under the mentorship of football legends-cum-schoolteachers Rusten Mogane and his longtime buddy Metuu Hipondoka.
It was not long before his steady performance caught the eye of talent scouts from non-league outfit Cosmos Football Club, which had just joined forces with the newly formed Central Namibia Football Association League in Khomasdal.
The new kid on the block attracted the crème de la crème of the finest ‘footies’ from Khomasdal, which included Lance ‘Jakkals’ Willemse, Ritchie ‘Ski’ Streenkamp, ‘Lang’ Connie Mouton, Hendrik ‘Spies’ Feres, Dean and Johnny Willemse, Tollie van Wyk, Brian Isaacs, Godfather Kaurivi, Cardo Mannetti, Harold ‘Oorlog’ Olivier, Brian ‘Golla’ van Staden, Totii Hanavi and a horde of talented ‘footies’ from that neck of the woods.
The league was very competitive, popular and attracted large crowds, dwarfing their more celebrated counterparts in the elite Central Football Association (CFA) League across town.
Some of the prominent teams were Swansea, Civics, Arsenal, Luton, Benfica, Sorrento Bucks and Khomasdal old timers Thistles. Upon completing his secondary education, the cool and calculated defender enrolled at the Academy for Tertiary Education in Khomasdal, reading towards a teaching diploma.
He found himself in the good company of celebrated footballers Prof. Mike Ochurub, Jomo Gallant, Dan-Boy Ndjadila, Giddies Gurirab, Gabriel ‘Player’ Wimmerth, Isaac Gruzi Goseb, Hermann Ngaa Katjiuongua, Naftali Noabeb, Mandy Rickets, Fussy Tjozongoro, Ephraim Dawid and Zedecias ‘Sadike’ Gottlieb.
In the meantime, Semba would feature for Gobabis-based outfit Kilus Eleven and Epukiro Chiefs in the hotly-contested knockout cup tournaments around the Cattle Country, playing alongside greats Kapora Murangi, Striker Hengari, Paul Murangi, Barry Rukoro and Tujendekuru Kaindjee. His next stop was Aranos in the southern part of the country, where he was posted to kick start his journey in the education sector.
He joined Aranos Football Club, narrowly losing out on promotion to the elite league after being pipped at the post by Gobabis outfit My dae Chiefs in the play-offs.
However, his lodging in the remote village town was interrupted when he was transferred to Gobabis to take learners through the ropes at Mokganedi Thlahabanello Secondary School.
Admittedly, his arrival in ‘Gobz’ was like manna sent from heaven.
While potential suitors hurriedly lined up to snatch his signature, Semba found refuge at emerging local outfit Kilus Eleven under the stewardship of departed politician Chief Kilus Karaerua Nguvauva.
Tellingly, the tallish defender announced his arrival on the big stage with steady defensive displays, complimented by his phenomenal game reading and trademark calmness in the middle of the team’s seemingly unbreakable rearguard, sharing the dressing room with the likes of Mannetjie Kaimu, Paul Murangi, Duiker Moelenyane and Bigman Uanivi.
A very competitive athlete fitted with a big engine and phenomenal leadership qualities, the roaming defender sporadically registered his name on the score sheet – mostly from set-pieces.
He was a fantastic penalty taker and barely missed the target from the spot.
Impressively, the hard tackling defender won the coveted Cattle Country League title in his debut season with Kilus Eleven.
After all, his genes dictated he would be a decent ‘baller’, tailing in the footsteps of his equally-talented nephews Edward‘Utjo’ Ngatuuane and the presumably late Immanuel ‘Fusi’ Semba.
Well, as the saying goes ‘good things come to an end’.
The tough-as-steak defender called it quits whilst still at the pinnacle of an otherwise amazing football career to concentrate on coaching and managing the promising careers of upcoming youngsters. “My toughest opponent was Crooks Nunuheb of Desert Rollers. That boy was tricky and very difficult to pin down – an absolute nightmare to many defenders” he said.
The now-retired football crazy defender is still very much involved in the overall development of the game in the Omaheke region to the extent that he was appointed head of delegation for the upcoming Namibian Newspaper Youth Cup to he hosted in Outjo in the Kunene region this year. “My undying passion for football was motivated by the art of defending. I always admired the defensive element of the game, notably the flawless defensive display of the now-retired Scottish international Alan Hansen and his equally magical ex Irish international centre-back partner Mark Lawrenson. “The pair jealously guarded the fort for the well-greased Liverpool side in the 1980s,” Semba, who nowadays doubles as a part-time commercial farmer-cum-uncompromising social justice activist, said.