Born Hasso Katjivena in 1952 at the historic settlement Ongombembonde, Waterberg, Okakarara constituency in the vastly populated Otjozondjupa region, the same year Katutura glamour football club African Stars was birthed, Hasso was meant to be a Red.

A born and bred product of the settlement, young Hasso started his elementary education at the local school in 1960. During school holidays, Hasso would travel to the city of bright lights, Windhoek, to spend time with extended family members.

The raw village boy befriended real toughies such as Itembu, famously known as ‘Tjistuki’, Kaika Kuzee, Kapuku Haukongo, and a few real toughies from the neighborhood. With recreational activities a rare commodity in the impoverished location, the boys would resort to kick around an inflated piece of leather (football) whenever the chance presented itself.

Upon completing his primary school, Hasso was dispatched to Windhoek to further his academic aspirations at the revered Augustineum Secondary School. Here, he teamed up with fellow schoolmates Stanley ‘Stigga’ Kozonguizi, Wilson ‘Chippa’ Mberirua, Justus Kaika Kuzee, Metusal ‘Babes’ Kangombe, Manfred ‘Bush’ Menjengua, Bethuel ‘Ace’ Tjirera to form a small football team christened Sundwons.

“As you might be aware, back in the day, many associations were primarily formed along ethnic lines, but, for us, it was more about a sense of belonging because of the systematic divide and rule. The boys from the south had their own team named Southern Empire, others from the eastern and western parts of the country also established their own football teams,” reveals Hasso.

However, the team was disbanded to make way for the newly formed Windhoek City, mimicking the City’s only semi-professional outfit, Windhoek City. The predominantly white squad campaigned fiercely in the competitive South African Provincial second tier league, with matches staged every second Friday at the freezing compact Windhoek Showgrounds.

Upon leaving school, Hasso joined forces with his boyhood team, African Stars, operating from the left fullback position for the Reds’ second strings. The versatile footie who equally comfortable slotting in to the holding midfield role also featured for unfashionable social team Ehahe.

Interestingly, the team was made up from the big pool of African Stars robust defenders to test their mettle against Golden, a combination comprising of the more skilled midfielders and deadly attackers.

The competition between the pair became tense and the rivalry would intensify as the two cousins locked horns at the usually packed to the rafters Katutura Municipal Stadium in the heart of the township behind the big shops. The contest reached a boiling point as both sets of players took the rivalry to the next level, often resulting in unpleasant physical scuffles between the players. This obligated elders from African Stars to step in to cool things down. It was amicably resolved to dissolve the teams for the sake of harmony in the Reds camp.

The strongly built fullback formed the cornerstone of the Reds’ second strings steady rearguard to the extent that he was occasionally upgraded to the first team. A brilliant game reader, and great tackler whose trademark well-timed interceptions left many strikers confused, Hasso was the designated ‘Rock of Gibraltar’ in the Reds rock solid defensive line and could have easily gone far had he stayed a bit longer in the game.

He made his debut for Stars first team against bitter rivals Orlando Pirates and did fairly well to contain the dangerous pair of devastating wingers Daniel Koopman and his partner in crime Willem Eichab. He also did well in matches against Dolam Pirates, Tigers and a few other top ranked teams in the country’s elite football league.

Upon retiring from playing competitive football, Hasso turned his hand to business. The hard tackling fullback retreated to his home village Okakarara, where he opened and Café and Liquor outlets in 2000.

Three years down the line, the streetwise football playing fullback-cum-businessman was on the move again. Having accumulated sufficient ‘moolah’ from his profitable languor store, the business minded bloke cleverly purchased a commercial farm in the fertile Outjo district, situated approximately 40 kilometres east of Outjo towards Otavi.

The now retired fullback farms with livestock ranging from cattle, goats, sheep and game, certainly no mean feat for a boy from humble beginnings. The amazing story of Hasso Katjivena is the epitome of pure visionary planning and properly pacing oneself towards previously unchartered territory without the fear of failure.

And whilst a significant chunk of former footballers are living a shattered life of loneliness, permanently broke and homeless, Hasso has, without a shadow of doubt, demonstrated that there is indeed life after football if a little bit of careful planning, strict financial discipline, determination, dedication, and courage are applied in the most appropriate fashion.