Born Karl Mouton in Namibia’s commercial hub Windhoek on the 28th of August 1970, the energetic young boy started his elementary education at Gammams Primary School in Khomasdal before stints with L.J Barnes and Ella du Plessis. ‘Kareltjie’ was exposed to the beautiful game of football at a very young age, representing the school football teams at different age groups.

A genuinely born leader and strict disciplinarian, ‘Kareltjie’ was handsomely rewarded for his unmatched leadership quality way belying his tender age, let alone matured calmness under tremendous pressure with the captain’s armband. The diminutive young defender teamed up with boys from the hood to form Arsenal Football Club, under the watchful eye of football guru Uncle Walter ‘Bobby’ Sissing.

His arrival in organised football structures coincided with the inevitable birth of the rebellious Central Namibia Football Association (CNFA), an associate of the militant, uncompromising SACOS, floating under the much despised, infamous slogan ‘No Normal Sport in an Abnormal Society’. 

“I was training with Swansea, but it was very difficult to break into the starting eleven because they had very good senior, talented, experienced players. I somehow became frustrated with watching my buddies doing the real thing on the football pitch whilst I was idling on the sidelines. I wanted to join the action,” recalls the now retired defender, nowadays a pale shadow of the once promising football playing centre back whose name was on everybody’s lips. During his time with the youthful Arsenal side, ‘Kareltjie’ cemented himself amongst the finest upcoming footies in the business.

His name was always on the list of candidates to represent the star studded CNFA Combined team that competed fiercely against top South African teams in the hotly contested knockout cup tournaments.

When Namibia finally emerged from South African apartheid in 1990, authorities put their foot down and called for a unified sports body that would allow all sporting events to be played under a single governing body. This twist signaled the end of CNFA’s further flirtation with the militant SACOS.

Facing the dilemma of entering previously uncharted territory, Arsenal and Civics resolved to merge in an effort to form one strong team that would represent the Khomasdal community with joy and pride.

While some of his celebrated teammates from Arsenal, Tollie van Wyk and Willem Cloete, resolved to join forces with Ramblers and African Stars respectively, ‘Kareltjie’ stayed put and was amongst the star players in the newly combined Civics/Arsenal team. 

His near faultless display in the heart of the Civilians rearguard earned him a place in the first truly authentic national youth team. Kareltjie commanded the back line when the Namibian under team made her debut at international level during the Cosafa Youth Cup on home soil in 1992.

Additionally, ‘Shotgun’ tasted international football at senior level when he was duly selected for the national youth team international friendly against Lesotho, away in Maseru. A damn phenomenal game reader and great ball distributor, ‘Kareltjie’ was the envy of every football coach worth their salt. His organsational acumen, positioning and timely interceptions were something out of this world.   

His thoughts on the challenging integration in to the hardships of competitive Premier league football. “To be brutally honest, it was an eye opener for some of us. The gulf in quality was a big but we had to bite the bullet and roll with the lunches because we had some very goof, talented youngsters in our squad.

“Eish…..the physicality and intensity of the game was a serious challenge but we somehow managed to cope and gradually got used to the trough and demanding rigors of Premier league football. We were very eager to learn, gain much needed experience and represent our community with a certain measure of pride.”

“Playing against top clubs such as Black Africa, Tigers, Ramblers, African Stars, Orlando Pirates, Chief Santos and Blue Waters gave us courage to improve our game. It was fun and enjoyable playing in front of big crowds as it offered a great atmosphere, which is a healthy motivation. We started to value the game more in its entirety.” ‘Shotgun’ cites former Hungry Lions, Tigers Football Clubs and Brave Warriors slippery attacker Foresta Nicodemus as his biggest enemy and nightmare on the football field.

“My broer, that boy was very dangerous with the ball at his feet. Forra was a clinical finisher and could easily maneuver his way out of tight pockets to create space for shooting. He could dribble with both feet and twists as if his body was boneless…May his soul continue to rest in eternal peace.”   

Sadly, ‘Kareltjie’s blossoming football career ended on an unpleasant note when his favorite right leg was shattered in pieces by a pair of life bullets. The usually cool as a cucumber defender found himself entangled in a scuffle with a gun wielding bloke who hailed from the diamond rich coastal town of Oranjemund.

Sources close to the unfortunate incident claimed that ‘Kareltjie’ jumped to the defense of his buddy, who was engaged in a physical fight with the unnamed dude from down under. As fate would dictate, Kareltjie was caught in the cross fire.

The recklessly unleashed bullets penetrated his backside through the right leg, leaving him with grave discomfort to walk properly, let alone chase an inflated piece of pigskin again, indeed a very sad ending for a promising athlete who had the world at his feet.     

Ironically, the scene of the incident brought back sad memories as another noted footie Uncle Walter Bobby Sissing was subjected to the same ordeal in similar fashion on the same spot in 1973. May his sporting soul continue to rest in ancestral power.