Growing up in the dusty streets of Namibia’s largest residential enclave Katutura location, ‘Fusi’ was just like many young black boys of his age who were football crazy, the soft-spoken light skin boy kicked a ball at the slightest provocation, playing street football until mommy calls.
However, it was at the Okakarara Secondary School where the strongly built winger rose to prominence chalking the white line with elegance down the right side of the pitch. Bro ‘Fusi’ was a complete footballer tormenting robust defenders with sheer strength, speed, and great ball control.
He mastered the art of bringing the ball down with his chest with relative ease and could strike the spherical object fairly well from range whilst taking to his heels in full flight. Playing in the dangerous firing line comprising of his equally gifted teammates Jackson Meroro, Five Kandingua, Tjikaa Tjejamba, Usiel Kotjipati and Barnes Hangula, ‘Fusi’ was a polished diamond.
Truth be told, it was a marvel to watch the speedy winger romanticize the spherical object effortlessly, much to the delight of many football followers. At club level, Bro ‘Fusi’ cut his teeth with ambitious second tier campaigners Hungry Lions Football Club.
He formed a dangerous telepathic combination with sharpshooters Ernest ‘Kallie’ Billhawer, Moses ‘Five’ Kandingua, Bernard Neumann, Justice ‘Jannaman’ Basson, and Ndaka ‘Issy’ Murangi, in that sequence. The free scoring forward occasionally turned out for Katutura glamour football club African Stars’ star-studded second strings, lining up comfortably alongside greats; Juku Tjazuko, Sadike Gottileb, Cha-Cha Nicodemus, Mannetjie Kanguvi, and Vesora Tjarera.
‘Fusi’ was younger brother of former Flames Football Club hard tackling fullback, Dobra protégé Ewaldt Ngatuuane ‘Utjo’ Semba, nephew to another Dobra product Filllemon ‘Fly’ Kaizemi-Victor. The latter played club football for Flames FC. History reveals that ‘Fusi’, is amongst dozens of prominent local footballers who did not return from exile in the following order.
Much-adored highly respected football administrator Simon Ndapewa Sisingi Hiskia, headlines the list of unaccounted former footballers who went to exile. Fearless political activist, former Dobra and Orlando Pirates Football Club versatile defensive midfielder Benny Petrus, tailed by Botsotso Hermann, Khari-axab Lambert, Capro Ngapurue, Tobi Renatu, Tinsie Hans, Zondi Amathila, Sholly Tjongarero, Ali Goraseb, Lemmy Lazarus, Kayala Haufiku, Ngururume Katjiku, Cuba Kaitjirokere, Mboroto Herunga, Futuma Seraera,
The remains of both Ngapurue and Tjongarero were repatriated to their mother land for dignified burials. May their combined souls continue to rest in eternal peace in one piece. The dominant view is that ‘Fusi’ could have become one of the finest talents in domestic football had he stayed longer in the game. A great kindhearted young man of decent upbringing ‘Fusi’ was well disciplined, strong, and looked well after his upper body. Respectfully, the author is yet to watch footballers that can effortlessly bring the ball down on their chest in the same fashion a full-grown adult would snatch caddy from an unsuspecting toddler, so to speak.
The boy was gifted and could do anything with the ball glued to his tiny feet. Bro ‘Fusi’ possessed all the required attributes of a complete athlete. He was a proven net buster of note, phenomenal shooter with both feet from tight angles in addition to brilliant positioning whilst his running off the ball was something out of this world. The story of Namibian football will be incomplete if the name of Immanuel ‘Fusi’ Semba, is omitted from the narrative.
Whilst his whereabouts remains a mystery, those of us who had the opportunity watching ‘Fusi’ bewitch the spherical object without having to shed an ounce of sweat will always remember the good memories he brought upon us with his jaw dropping wing play. The brother was your typical modern-day winger. May his soul continue to rest in peace wherever his unaccounted lifeless body is Shaft.