At times, we all wish we could turn back the clock and relive some of the good old days, albeit for just a few juffies, because history is very difficult to repeat.
The year 1997 will go down in the memory of many local football followers as the period when the country’s most popular pastime, the beautiful game of football came of age. It has now been 38 years since the inevitable introduction of multi-racial football in Namibia that saw blacks and whites mingling and rubbing shoulders with each other on the football field.
However, it was not all smooth-sailing for the successful implementation of the process, as some whites sought by all means to maintain their sickeningly misplaced perceived racial supremacy over their black counterparts, while the latter would fight for racial equality.
The country’s leading football clubs were divided into regional league structures, including the highly contested Central Division one league, complimented by equally competitive Western, Northern, Southern and the Far-Northern regional leagues.
However, attention swung in the direction of Windhoek, where the traditional Katutura big four, African Stars, Black Africa, Orlando Pirates and Tigers, were put to the sword by their more illustrious opponents in the mould of Ramblers, SKW and Windhoek United (formerly Windhoek City FC).
It became a battle of two bulls in the same kraal as the struggle intensified between Katutura glamour football club African Stars and Ramblers, with both giants taking centre-stage in the fight for football supremacy and bragging rights.
It’s now a well-documented secret that the Reds, under the shrewd stewardship of Kella Kauta and German football expert Dieter Widmann, came out tops against all odds staked against them by winning a historic cup double in the maiden edition of multi-racial football in 1977.
Although the Reds’ triumph was spearheaded by midfield virtuoso, Oscar ‘Silver Fox’ Mengo, the team depended heavily on goals from the educated boot of a fairly unknown burly striker. This bloke was in fact a refugee from Congo Brazzaville, (formerly part of the French colony of Equatorial Africa) by the name of Zenga Dodo.
In today’s edition of your favourite weekly sports feature, Tales of the Legends, New Era Sport profiles the exploits of the gentle giant and how his astonishing goals guided Stars to unprecedented heights.
With a line-up filled by highly gifted young footballers at their disposal, African Stars’ sudden newfound and near-faultless form and rapid rise to stardom in domestic football caught many by surprise.
The Reds’ rise coincided with the arrival of two of the finest wingers in the business, in the shape of Gerson Kaputji Kuhanga and Immanuel Marques Kamuserandi, both signed from coastal rivals Blue Waters.
The pair linked up with twin centre-forwards Ben Kauejao and Ace Tjirera, but something was still amiss and it was not until the arrival of Zenga Dodo, a refugee who was spotted playing club football in the dusty streets of Rundu.
Stars acted swiftly and brought the big-framed ebony-skinned striker on board. The big Zairean announced his arrival on the local football scene with breathtaking goals, never seen before in our neck of the woods.
What Dodo lacked in speed and mobility, the soft-spoken Zairean made up for with a sharp eye for goal and he could shield the ball with unbelievable virtuosity – allowing the likes of co-strikers Ace Tjirera and Ben Kauejao enough space to sneak behind defenders.
At the time Stars had doubtlessly the most well-balanced squad in the league, complimented by a strong defense, manned by veteran centre-back Kierie Tjituaiza, Willy ‘Garrincha’ Katire, Merino Kandonga and the tireless and speedy young fullback, George Gariseb.
With the Fox (Mengo) pulling the strings in the middle of the park with ease, ably assisted by the hardworking and strongly-built Kaika Kuzee and Albert Tjihero, the Reds’ well-oiled engine became the envy of many football followers and opponents alike.
Dodo would often also link up with fellow refugees, the jailed Amerigo de Almeida and the stylish late Jose Zeca in the Reds’ striking force.
Back in the day, Stars’ goal hungry firing line, consisting of Kaputji Kuhanga, Immanuel Kamusernadu, Ace Tjirera, Ben Kauejao and Zenga Dodo, was considered by many as the most lethal in the league – as can be attested by the avalanche of goals the team scored in many of their league and cup assignments during the initial period of multi-racial football.
After steering the Reds to a cup double, the free-scoring bulky Dodo was snapped up by the South African glamour football club, Kaizer Chiefs, to ply his trade in the highly competitive South African Professional Soccer League (PSL). In doing so he followed in the footsteps of teammate Oscar Mengo.
Other Namibians, who have played for the Soweto giants, include Lemmy Narib, Pius ‘Garrincha’ Eigowab, Hermann ‘Pele’ Blaschke, Mohammed Ouseb and Robert Nauseb.
However, Dodo’s refugee status came under scrutiny in the South African professional league setup as authorities would not allow refugees to work and roam freely in their territory, given that football in neighbouring South Africa was regarded as a professional trade.
The ebony-skinned Zairian was eventually shipped off to African Wanderers in Durban, where he teamed up with former Black Africa sharpshooter Pius ‘Garrincha’ Eigowab, only to resurface at Chatsworth outfit Berea FC in the rebel Federation Football League.
The highly politicised Federation League mainly housed defiant Coloured and Indian footballers under the famous slogan ‘No Normal Sports in an Abnormal Society’.
Years later, the talismanic Dodo was finally back in his native Congo Brazzaville and was a guest of honour when his former team, African Stars, arrived in the Congolese capital to compete in an African Club Championship League clash against local outfit AS Vita in Kinshasa.
Tears of joy rolled freely down the ageing cheeks of the giant striker when he was reunited with one of his former colleagues from the all-conquering African Stars outfit of the late 70s, overlapping fullback George Gariseb.
The clearly excited pair hugged each other for long periods and it was evident from the attachment that they wished one could turn back the clock and relive the good old days. Up to this day, Dodo is regarded by football pundits as the most accomplished foreign import to have graced the shores of domestic football.
In the intervening years, a significant number of high-profile footballers from beyond Namibia’s borders also descended on the local football scene and made their presence felt with great aplomb.
The likes of Mundu Camana, Domingo Martin, Tony Belange, Fernando Simao, Chico Gonsalves, Abidas Bwalya, Sputla Masite, Raphael Ucana, Samson John, Baba Kasembe, Aaron Thebe, Armando Pedro, Junias Grootboom, Shaya Mwelasi and many others all set the domestic football scene ablaze with breathtaking displays of ball skills that made them household names.
However, none of the abovementioned athletes would hold a candle against ‘Slow Poison’, the gentle giant, Zenga Dodo. New Era Sport salutes this great athlete – may his legacy live long and remain firmly entrenched in the golden pages of our archives.