“We had a lot of free time on our hands, and there was not much going on, so we resolved to play football inside the school hall. Many happy hours were spent engaging in small games kicking around between the boys. My passion for football and sport in general was born right there which culminated in the unifying spirit that stuck with me throughout my entire life,” recalls Goldbeck.

The sport crazy lanky boy moved to the German government school DSW, in Windhoek, where he continued playing the beautiful game of football as the designated net guard (goalkeeper) for the school’s U/14 team. As has become customary practice when one reaches the age of 16, ‘Manni’ was obligated to change gears.

He joined the unfashionable local outfit Deutscher Turns Sportveiren (DTS) before jumping ship only to find refuge at exciting Pionierspark outfit Ramblers Football Club, finding himself rubbing shoulders with established stars, ‘Manni’ got exposed to mingling with athletes from various South African Inter-Provincial Provinces and different ethnicities.

This unique environment made a huge impression on him learning dynamics about the values of diversity, something that made him stronger spiritually. “To be brutally honest, it was a concept that imbued itself in my philosophy of life from early on and one which would later form an essential component of Gondwana Collection Namibia.”

‘Manni’ played football for Ramblers as a free scoring striker often shifting between the sticks (goalkeeper) during my entire playing career. He also tried his hand at other sporting disciplines during his academic journey which included playing hockey for the South West Africa (SWA) Hockey team for the under-21 side. Additionally, he also played squash and handball as he was attracted to anything connected with a spherical object.

“We did not have sufficient hours during the day or week for all the sports hence my involvement in every available sport code. It was not all about winning, it was more about enjoyment and having fun. Aged 20, ‘Manni’ was approached by club honcho Siggi Frewer, who strongly felt it was a brilliant idea to incorporate younger players into the executive of the Central Football Association (CFA). He was thrown straight into the lion’s den as he was duly elected to occupy the plum portfolio of

Secretary for the mixed-race Association, serving under the stewardship of the late, highly respected politician and activist Danny Tjongarero. “Manni was a great man of substance who became my mentor, something that I will cherish for the rest of my life.”

In the intervening years, Tjongarero shepherded the process of organising an all areas press card allowing ‘Manni’ free movement to document and photograph Namibia’s Independence Celebrations in 1990. Amongst his memorable moments on the sporting field was his inclusion in the South West Africa (SWA) hockey team for the South African Inter-Provincial Tournament in Stellenbosch in 1981, winning a gold medal.

‘Manni’ represented his native land at the South African outdoor Hockey tournament in Bloemfontein in 1980. He netted a rare hat-trick against Katutura giants African Stars in the CFA League clash, in addition to hitting a home run in baseball. He also played handball for his native land (SWA).

His impressive sporting resume saw ‘Manni’ mentor the South West Africa (SWA) Youth football teams ranging from under 14s, 16s and 20s whilst a schoolteacher at the revered Concordia College. Some of his most celebrated proteges were Frank Fredericks, Allu Hailonga, Gosbert Sikerete, Struggle Izuha and other high profile young footies of remarkable pedigree.

“We had great teams with a diverse bunch of highly gifted youngsters demonstrating phenomenal team spirit and won several league titles and knockout cup tournaments. The teams boasted some of the first multicultural squads pre-independence representing SWA at inter inter-provincial level including winning a gold medal in the U/21 Coca Cola Youth Cup in South Africa. I vividly remember Frank Frederiks scoring the winning goal amid excited cheers from the crowd.”

To add the cherry on top of an amazing flawless sporting journey, ‘Manni’ took the bull by the horns when he singlehandedly organised a high-profile exhibition rematch between an all whites and all blacks invitational elevens, reminiscent of the historic football clash between blacks and whites in 1975. That particular football match ultimately opened the door for the inevitable introduction of mixed-race sport in apartheid South West Africa in 1977.

The low-key exhibition match staged at the Ramblers field featured a respectable number of the original members from the previous clash of the Titans with the late Wolfgang Egerer handling proceedings via his infamous whistle. May his gentle soul continue resting in eternal peace.

The match was preceded by a well-attended come-together at the Gondwana ‘makeshift old location stylish pub in Klein Windhoek the night before. The reunion was an enormous success with tears of joy and ecstasy streaming like the flow of the Atlantic Ocean down the ageing cheeks of retired footies as they hysterically went down memory lane cracking jokes revisiting the gut old days.

Despite being a bit long in the tooth and paddling on a decent stretch towards the sunset of the skeleton lifespan, some of the retired players travelled from all corners of the country and as far afield as Cape Town and Johannesburg to be in attendance. The reunion was a chance to celebrate and showcase the reconciliatory spirit of the match, a definite forerunner of the new Namibia.

Everyone gathered at Gondwana’s colourful ‘Kambashu the night before beginning the get together with well prepared food, and lively festivities that included a live music performing band wrapped up with a symbolic prize-giving ceremony where the proud captains Albert Tjihero and his counterpart Hasso Ahrens happily received the chaired trophy to loud applause from the floor.

In his parting shot, ‘Manni’ believes that even though those football and sport-filled days could be a thing of the past, the game of football is no longer a massive attraction like it was in the 70s, 80s and 90s, the game has taught him unforgettable life lessons he will always be proud of.

“What I learnt from those early football days will always remain with me for the rest of my life, the good sportsmanship and the amazing team spirit, and most importantly the nugget of knowledge that diversity makes you stronger, which remains at the heart of the Gondwana Collection business entity up to this day”.