As it stands, internationally-acclaimed sprinter Christine Mboma might have set the scene alight and is currently the talk of town, and rightly so. The vastly populated north-eastern town of Rundu has never been short of high-profile sport personalities.
Back in the day, two prominent football teams going by the names Rundu Chiefs and Cuca Tops were called into life to entertain the sport-crazy residents of the town. Needless to note that the model was designed to emulate their South African idols Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates, and they adopted the colours of both teams in the process.
The two clubs had in their armoury highly-gifted footies, and while Tops were shepherded by the great Paul Kandere, famously known as the ‘Black Panther’, Chiefs had the ‘Cheese Kop’ South African migrant Juneas Pumlo “Mtimkhulu” Grootboom, a dribbling wizard of note in their midst.
Sadly, the much-adored former Eleven Experience (Upington – Paballelo), African Stars (Windhoek), and Rundu Chiefs Football Clubs’ attacking midfielder died last week after losing a long battle with illness in Johannesburg, South Africa. May his sporting soul rest in power.
As has become customary practice to pay tribute to our departed and living sport heroes and heroines past and present, New Era Sport delves into the football journey of ‘Cheese Kop’, as the late Juneas was affectionately referred to by his adoring fans.
History reveals that the stylish Juneas Pumlo Grootboom, aka ‘Mtimkhulu’, arrived in then Apartheid South West Africa (SWA) in the late 70’s from exciting Paballelo outfit, Eleven Experience Football Club.
The adorable dribbling wizard was amongst the first bunch of foreign footies who crossed the Orange River to ply their trade in South Africa’s then fifth province (Namibia), alongside the big-frame stylish football genius Aaron ‘Arie’ Mtembe, nowadays a respected man of the cloth, Junior Themba Mane, Jabu Brown, Kenneth Phakade, Raphael Ncukane, Willem ‘Rebel’ Plaatjies and Andile Kalipa, amongst others.
Their mass arrival in the Land of the Brave coincided with the inevitable introduction of multi-racial football in 1977.
By this time, Katutura glamour football club African Stars, under the stewardship of shrewd German migrant Dr Dieter Widmann, were riding the crest of the wave and became the team of choice.
The Reds clinched the inaugural national league title and went on to claim a cup double a fortnight later, adding the coveted Mainstay Cup at the expense of cross-town rivals Ramblers on both occasions.
As it turned out, it was only fitting that the bald-headed ball juggler would find refuge with ‘Starlile’, as African Stars are known.
Juneas rubbed shoulders with the great Oscar ‘Silver Fox’ Mengo, who had just returned from a successful stint with Soweto giants Kaizer Chiefs in the highly competitive South African top-flight professional football league.
Some of his other celebrated teammates were fellow South African migrant, the cool as a cucumber centre- back William Rwida, reliable defender Albert Tjihero, midfield general Doc Naobeb, free-scoring Bethuel ‘Ace’ Tjirera, the tireless overlapping fullback George Gariseb, box-to-box midfield general Kaika Kuzee, sharp-shooter Kaputji Kuhanga, serial net-busters Ben Kauejao and Immanuel Kamuserandu, tough-tackling fullback Gabriel ‘Kierie’ Tjituaiza, and agile shot-stopper Asaria Ndjiva Kauami.
Though not a regular starter, Juneas added a different flavour to the direct ‘one-touch’ playing style of Stars, cleverly implemented by their German mentor.
‘Cheese Kop’ was an entertainer par excellence, and would always be thrown into the mix of things when the result was already wrapped up.
A crowd favourite, his unbelievable amazing dribbling skills, quick short passing and trademark awkward galloping style was out of the ordinary, something never witnessed in domestic football before.
He always drove the appreciative crowd to the edge of their seats whenever he had the ball at his feet.
He might not rank amongst the legends of the untouchable Reds teams of the 70’s per se, but the former Eleven Experience FC blue-eyed boy will go down in history as a cult hero.
Having won every available silverware there was to be won with Starlile, it was time for a new challenge for Cheese Kop.
His next stop was Rundu, where he joined local giants Rundu Chiefs FC. He fostered a telepathic partnership with the equally dangerous local favourite Paul Kandere before the latter jumped ship to join bitter rivals Cuca Tops.
It’s a well-documented secret that the local derby between Rundu Chiefs and Cuca Tops is arguably the biggest derby in the entire country in terms of crowd attendance and hype, barring the African Stars vs Black Africa derby in Katutura.
The two highly-gifted players took centre-stage in the fiercely-contested Rundu derby, as the battle for bragging rights rested on the tiny shoulders of the great Kandere (Cuca Tops), and the new sheriff in town, Cheese Kop (Rundu Chiefs).
Tellingly, they had contrasting playing styles. Whereas Cheese Kop was an entertainer par excellence, reminiscent of the great Ephraim ‘Jomo’ Sono (SA Orlando Pirates), Kandere was your typical football genius in the mould of Patrick ‘Ace’ Ntsoelengoe (Kaizer Chiefs).
Despite his hero status amongst the Chiefs’ diehards, a serial bird of passage, Cheese Kop left the club in a hush…only to resurface in Rustenburg in the North-West Province of South Africa.
He was never to be heard of again until his untimely passing last week.
Upon learning about the sad passing of his protégé, Juneas’ former mentor at Stars Widmann described Cheese Kop as a jolly good fellow who enjoyed his football with great passion, though often much to the detriment of collective team play.
“I will never forget your tricky and unending dribbling, the bright smile on your babyface, even though you sometimes sent butterflies running riot in my belly with your unprovoked dribbling. Nevertheless, I will always remember and cherish the great moments we shared together, more importantly, your unbelievably positive attitude, amazing joy you brought to your teammates and everyone attached to the club. May your soul rest in peace,” wrote Widmann on a popular local football WhatsApp group.