Born Jeffrey James Luck in Bellville, Cape Town, South Africa, on 13 October 1956, Jeff was exposed to various sporting disciplines at an early age. However, many people only came to know him as the tough tackling defender plying his trade with ambitious Pionierspark outfit Ramblers Football Club in the mid-80s.
Jeff was also a mean cricketer who represented the country (SWA – Namibia), at provincial level. An undisputable multi-talented athlete, Jeff rose to prominence when he was appointed an international cricket umpire in 2006.
He made his debut on the international stage in the match between Canada and the Netherlands at Potchefstroom, South Africa, on 28 November 2006. The beanpole versatile athlete played club cricket for Ramblers and Wanderers.
On the football pitch, Jeff played as centre back for Ramblers Football Club in the highly competitive Central Football Association (CFA) league, partnering fellow Capetonian Bobby Craddock, in the middle of the Tunschell Strasse Boys’ rock steady rearguard.
Jeff played a pivotal role when Rammies won their first major cup final since the inevitable inception of mixed race football in 1977. Ramblers easily waltzed past pre-tournament favourites Chief Santos, dispatching the hapless Copper Town Boys by 4-0 in a one-sided final at the old Katutura stadium in 1985.
A qualified accountant, an extremely super intelligent bloke, Jeff was very popular among his teammates. He was in fact the kind of dude who could ease tension in the dressing room as he would always come up with his trademark humour, leaving his peers in stiches.
A phenomenal game reader and brilliant passer of the ball, Jeff was very dangerous on set pieces and scored a number of well-taken goals with the head. He toured the former West Germany with Ramblers old boys on the historic safari in 1988.
Upon retiring from playing competitive football, Jeff became the pillar of strength for Ramblers Old Boys forming a telepathic partnership with the equally solid centre back, the late Karl-Heinz ‘Steini’ Steinfurth. The tallish defender arrogantly marshalled the Ramblers Old Boys rock solid defensive line when the visiting Windhoekers brushed their opponents aside during their three-match exhibition tour in Cape Town 1992.
The visiting Rammies won all their matches against Bellville Secondary School (1-0), Germany (3-0), and Somerset West 1-0), scoring five goals without conceding a single one. His shock death brings to the tally of 20 departed former Ramblers players in recent years following the sad transition to eternity of the club’s valuable assets in the following sequence:
Jose Carreira, Uwe Ahrens, Don Corbett, Shorty Lohmeier, Steini Steinfurth, Harmut Beyer, Juku Tjazuko, Niel du Plessis, Peter Schwarzer, Bumpi Giersch, Lubbo Hiniterholzer, Erich Muinjo, Steven Leicher, Mundu Camana, Albert Nakale (long-serving bar tender), Larney Majiedt, Dove Fransman, Baka Adams, Gerry Keister, Joshua Uazenga, Jeff Luck.
Katze Gaeb 1961 – 2025
One of the football-playing Gaeb siblings, Katze was a proud product of St Joseph’s Secondary School (Dobra) located approximately 17 kilometres north east of Namibia’s commercial capital Windhoek.
Like many pupils from the unofficial school of football excellence, young Katze was obligated to find refuge with Katutura giants Black Africa to be re-united with elder brother August Gaeb, who manned the goals for the exciting Gemengde outfit.
Despite tough competition for starting berths, the diminutive young fullback quickly nailed himself a place in the starting eleven and never looked back since making his debut as a raw youngster. He went on to win several high-profile tournaments including back-to-back Mainstay Cup gold medals with BA in 1982 and 83.
A tough tackling fullback, and great man marker Katze’s timely interceptions made him stand head and shoulders above his peers. Though he was right footed and could hardly balance himself on the left leg, the lion-hearted pocket size fullback for some strange reason managed against all odds staked against him to neutralize marauding forwards.
Unlike many athletes who tended to get lost along the way upon retiring from playing football, Katze ventured into business and was doing fairly well until he suffered a devastating stroke that confined him to a wheelchair.
Katze comes from a very talented family of brothers August and Otto who were formidable footballers and the late Pius who was a salted vocalist, famously known for his breathtaking harmonies on the mbaqanga hit song Axarob.
Go well ‘Abuti Pikes’ RIP – Peter Karon 1951 – 2025
The death of local socialite Peter Karon, a brilliant human being, has sent shockwaves among the Katutura community. A schoolteacher by profession, the Augustineum Teachers College protégé was a Jack of all trades, excelling in almost everything he laid his magical hands on.
Karon served the game with distinction as administrator for Katutura giants Orlando Pirates, overseeing the club’s upsurge in the domestic league. He also doubled up as band manager for local pop band Ugly Creatures and was part of travelling entourage to Johannesburg, South Africa, for the band’s first Long Play recording session in the mid-70s.
A well-spoken bookish fellow of decent upbringing, Karon was the epitome of organic intellect, a man who always chose his words carefully, demonstrating outmost respect towards fellow citizens. He will be solely missed by those he rubbed shoulders with, be it in the social or in the academic space.