Though both Andries Bekeur and Kumi Umati passed from this earthly life into their eternal home in Heaven, the pair has left deep tracks in the annals of Namibia, having played at the highest level, representing their motherland in high-profile competitions, locally and provincially.
A proud product of Karibib Secondary School, to be relocated to Okombahe and renamed Martin Luther High School (MLH) in later years, Andries !Gerseb Bekeur, was not your ordinary player. He did not only play football for the sake of social engagement, but he also made it an art with magical footwork, confidence with a slight touch of football arrogance and vision way beyond his rookie tag.
The fast as lightning attacker was a complete footballer, quick off the mark, unbelievable technique, quick feet, deft touches, and could strike the ball well from range. After putting in some eye-catching performances for the school senior team, Ramblers Katutura, famously known as (‘RAMKAT’), came knocking on the door for his precious signature.
The phrase ‘Ramkat’ was coined by those at the helm of the white dominated Central Football Association (CFA), to separate the boys from the location from their ‘supposedly superior’ counterparts across town, Ramblers FC.
Admittedly, succeeding club icon Martin Sigab Williams, aka ‘Okambua Kombandi’, was not going to be a walk in the park. However, he was up to the challenge as he managed to write his own chapter. The light skinned quicksilver attacker was given the task to lead the team’s firing line alongside equally dangerous striking partner Petrus /Nerab Gariseb.
The pair terrorised and bamboozled robust defenders with their amazing ball trickery. His goal-scoring prowess and hard-to-ignorant, attractive style of play earned him the respect and admiration of many football followers to the extent that he was re-baptised ‘Ondoto Okaapa’ (The White Nama), by adoring African Stars supporters.
Despite playing for a mid-table side, the free scoring forward’s near faultless performance week in and week out for the gold and maroon stripe outfit earned him much deserved selection for the star-studded Central Invitational Eleven against visiting South African top clubs in exhibition matches that drew large crowds.
A multi-gifted athlete, his God-given talent was not only restricted to the football field, but the dribbling wizard was also a master of brass instruments. He was a prominent member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church (ECL) Brass Band that toured Deutschland (Germany) in 1966, whilst still a student at the revered Karibib Secondary School, under the stewardship of the late Fritz Schneider in 1966.
!Gerseb was a phenomenal Trombone player. Interestingly, some of his Brass band members were also his teammates at both school and club level. Doc Naobeb, Alphews Gaweseb, and the late pair of Japhta Noabeb and Izallo Swarts, all doubled as footies-cum-musos with distinction. His close buddy and former classmate at MLH, Jack Francis, a multitalented brass instrumentalist, describes his former teammate as a highly gifted Trombonist and phenomenal baller.
“He was very sharp and could romanticised the horn with relative ease. Without any doubt, one of the most accomplished brass instrumentalists has ever graced our shores. I have known the brother since high school days in Karibib, we played football and music together. He was a very talented bloke who excelled in almost everything he laid his tiny hands on. May his soul rest in peace,” said Francis.
RIP – Johannes Ndakumwa Kumi ‘Kannie-dood’ Umati
1956 – 2026
One of two football playing brothers alongside ‘Ou Boet’ Hofney ‘Grey’ Umati, Johannes Kumi Umati was a trusted servant of Donkerhoek outfit Tigers Football Club. Like many boys his age, Kumi started out with Ingwe’s second strings but quickly rose to the ranks of topflight football.
He was amongst the new generation of youngsters thrown into the Tigers’ cage to usher the team into its next chapter. A tough competitor fitted with a big engine, the always fit as a fiddle fullback formed the spine of Ingwe’s solid rearguard alongside equally tough tackling defenders ‘Scalla’ Shaanika, Mentos Hipondoka, and the cool as a cucumber Angolan import Fernando Simao.
A trusted one club man who stood the test of times, the bearded defender will go down in history as Tigers longest serving servant. He oversaw and mentored several generations as a senior player and interim coach at different points.
Without a shadow of doubt, one of Ingwe’s most decorated stalwarts, Kumi won gold medals from profile knockout cup competitions with ‘Ingwe’, including the coveted NSSL title 1985, x2 NFA Cups 1995/96, as player and coach… certainly no mean feat.
The uncompromising hard tackling fullback was a valuable squad member of arguably the finest team ever selected to represent apartheid South West Africa (SWA/Namibia), in the prestigious South African Inter-Provincial Currie Cup Tournament in East London, South Africa 1983.