Birthed Frederick Ndeutapo Ueitele in Gobabis, in the Omaheke region, the young boy was named after his grand old man Ndeutapo, hence the nickname ‘Tatekulu’ pronounced ‘Tatekulu’ in reference to his grand old Fox.
Growing up in a hostile environment where recreational facilities was a scares commodity ‘Tatekulu’, was obligated by circumstances to find means of entertainment and the only option was playing street football with other boys in the neighbourhood.
Some of his prominent teammates were former Blue Waters, Eleven Arrows, African Stars Football Clubs much travelled sharpshooter Pule Tjombe, Striker Hengari, Rasta Mbuende and Utuu Hengari for Epako Junior Secondary School.
Upon completing his elementary education, ‘Tatekulu’ was shipped to Okombahe near Omaruru to further his education at the revered Martin Luther High School. Here, the boy from the Cattle Country got exposed to play in a more structured system.
He found himself in the company of greats; Chicken Kasaona, Gideon Maletzky, Gabes Christof, Hamata cousins Max and Isaak, Albertus ‘Papzo’ Aochamub, Tangeni Amupadhi, and others. However, ‘Tatekulu’ was greeted with a fire of Baptism, as the MLH football team found themselves at the receiving end of the more superior St Joseph’s Secondary School (Dobra) team.
“Truth be told Dobra had a well-balanced squad laden with highly gifted players in the mould of Lovey Uushona, Bimbo Tjihero, and Bobby Samaria in their armoury. Aged 15, I was still very young and inexperienced, but the tense competition shaped me to become a better player’. Back home in his native town Gobabis, the free scoring lanky attacker joined forces with boyhood team Desert Rollers FC. He made his debut for Rollers, aged 16 alongside devastating dribbling wizard Ludwig ‘Croocks’ Nunuheb.
Interestingly, the young pair were a late inclusion in the starting line-up after the bulk of regular starters pupils from Drimiopsis Learning Institution, were denied permission to leave the school premises to compete in the knockout cup tournament.
‘Tatekulu’ grabbed the opportunity with hands banging a well taken hat-trick on his debut, and as they say, the rest is History. The lanky forward cemented his place in the Rollers starting line up from there on as his goals propelled the youthful Gobabis outfit the semi-finals of the coveted NFA Cup whilst competing in the national second tier league, certainly no mean feat.
Rollers put up a gallant display before bowing out of the tourney to big brother Black Africa, having accounted for Premiership campaigners Challengers, Liverpool, and Chief Santos en route to the last four. The free scoring attacker was in pole position for the golden boot award with a tally of five goals only to be piped at the post by jointly Civics hotshot striker Lesley ‘Hello Baby’ Nganjone. ‘Tatekulu’ netted a hat trick against Liverpool, complimented by a goal apiece against Challengers and Santos.
Despite the disappointment of missing out for a place in the final, Rollers clinched the Metropolitan Cup for second tier league teams. The Epako outfit defeated Mondesa outfit Blue Boys in the final having lost to old timers Life fighters in the final of the same competition the year before. His biggest joy and achievement was leading Rollers promotion to the country’s elite league in 1998, in addition to being called up twice for Brave Warriors trials by head coach Rusten Zukhile Mogane and Technical Director Peter Ueberjan. And even though he didn’t make the final cut because of an unfortunate injury at the training ground, ‘Tatekulu’ still cherishes his short-lived stint with the Brave Warriors adding it always be amongst the highlights of his disrupted playing career.
‘Tatekulu’ was left devastated and heartbroken when he suffered an injury during national team training sessions ultimately missing out the trip to Deutschland (Germany), in addition to suffering relegation from the country’s flagship league.
Regrettably, his promising football journey ended prematurely aged 25 after he found employment with the town’s Municipality, where he has been earning his perks for the last 30 years. A self-confessed Tigers supporter, ‘Tatekulu’ is a diehard Kaizer Chiefs, and Liverpool fan. He grew up admiring giant killers Hungry Lions. ‘The Brave Lions of Judah used to compete regularly in knockout cup tournaments in Gobabis when I was a young boy. I was inspired by their never say die attitude, team spirit and cohesion’.
The gangling striker almost realised a childhood dream to play for Tigers and almost joined ‘Ingwe’ had it not been for the untimely intervention of the notorious troublesome ‘Rooi Oog’ thugs. Elder brother Izaak smooth talked him to exchange Gobabis for the city of bright lights (Windhoek), so that he could join ‘Ingwe’. Sadly, a casual night out at Club Thriller turned to a nightmarish experience.
“I was approached by a pair of aggressive Tigers supporters accusing me of being reluctant to play for Tigers. Those naughty boys gifted me the beating of my life leaving me very angry. I dropped plans to join Tigers and went to train with African Stars where I was welcomed with open hands. However, my clearly incensed Ou told me in no uncertain terms that it was either Tigers or nothing.
“During my time at Rollers I enjoyed playing alongside the legendary Croocks Nunuheb, whom I formed a telepathic combination with. Eish, my brother it was a combo made in Heaven we were a nightmare to our opponents,” concludes the retired lethal net buster. An explosive deadly forward, clinical in front of goal, packing dynamite in both feet we could be talking about one of the deadliest attackers in the business had it not been for proximity loyalty. ‘Tatekulu’ could have easily walked blindfolded into the starting line-up of any top team in the country’s flagship league.
Off the pitch, the now retired hotshot attacker is the incumbent Public Relations Officer for Gobabis Municipality. Takulu doubles as dedicated Church Council Member of ELCRN.