Born and raised right in the heart of the sacred garden town Okahandja’s old location, young Franz Gertze was always destined for greatness. 

The permanently jovial light skinned boy of humble beginnings, ‘Ouman’, as Franz is affectionately known amongst his vast circle of friends and acquaintances started his elementary education at the Aurora Primary School for native Bantus.  

However, he was forcefully moved by authorities to the slightly more affluent school for basters or coloured learners holed up in the Nau-Aib location. Like many other boys his age, Gertze was football crazy and would play street football barefoot with other boys his age in the neighbourhood until mommy calls. 

By his own admission, he did play a bit of football as a youngster and tried his hand at trading leather, but after a couple of hard knocks to his head, he resolved to call it quits prematurely. 

Upon completing his primary education in his hometown, Gertze was dispatched to the revered Martin Luther High School (MLH) in Okombahe near Omaruru in the mountainous Erongo region. 

It was indeed during his stint at MLH that he rose to prominence as a noted figure vigorously advocating for the advancement of student politics and robust debates challenging the apartheid system. 

A very smart and sharp minded learner, the super active ‘Ouman’ also has unquenchable passion for live music, and it came as no surprise when he joined the MLH School band tickling the ivories (keyboards). 

“Truthfully speaking my time at MLH gave me a different perspective about life, nurturing me into maturity at a very young age,” he said. 

A bird of passage, it was time to move locations and his next stop was the city of bright lights (Windhoek). He enrolled at the Ella du Plessis Secondary School in Khomasdal where he effortlessly obtained a school leaving certificate with flying colours. 

He was elected to serve on the Students Representative Council (SRC) and subsequently rose to the plum portfolio of NRC president, a position he held with great aplomb for three years. “Our main task was not only about sport activities it was more on political strategies and streamlining.” 

He was amongst the first group of in-takes at the Windhoek Teachers College Academy in the mid-80s, reading towards a Diploma in teaching. Ouman started his teaching career at the Empelheim High School in Mariental, in the semi-desert Hardap region. The energetic young ‘Onnie’ from the garden town was thrown into the deep end. 

“To be brutally honest, there was nothing happening sport wise with no well-defined tangible training programmes in place. I was obligated to make things happen coaching learners about the finer points in athletics, rugby and football.” 

Gertze was subsequently elected to serve on the Central Schools Soccer Union (CSSU) executive committee for five years before being elevated to the plum position of National Schools Sport Union (NSSU) president. A position he held aloft for a full decade, certainly no mean feat. 

His immerse contribution towards the overall growth of school football saw him being co-opted to the Namibia Football Association (NFA) Youth League Exco. The boy with the Midas touch went on to occupy several high-profile portfolios that include exco member of the National Sports Commission (NSC) chiefly responsible for drawing up the constitution and sustainable roadmap for the NSC. 

During his tenure at the helm of the NSC, Gertze travelled globally fostering close ties with developed nations such as Finland, Sweden and Germany for developmental programmes. He was instrumental in the export of young promising footballers Razundara Tjikuzu and Collin Benjamin to Germany. 

He also masterminded training courses for local football coaches Gabriel Freyer and the late Eric Muinjo, in conjunction with former Brave Warriors technical director Peter Uberjahn. Working in close collaboration with his equally smart nephew Dr Vetumbuavi Vei, the pair set up structures ensuring local athletes got well developed at international level. He also attended the IFS Conference in Shanghai, China. 

Gertze was duly elected president of Cossasa, tasked to draft different assignments with limited resources and often had to use money from his own pocket to complete the assignments. “It was not a walk in the park we had to ensure mass participation from all walks of life.” 

As the designated director in the ministry of education, Gertze played an instrumental role in expanding the scope to all regions. He accompanied several high-level delegations to August gatherings abroad, International Youth Games in Moscow, Russia, All Africa Multi-Sport Games Abuja, Nigeria, and many other notable events.

“Culture and sport go hand in glove, my involvement with youth sport taught me many good life lessons, chiefly problem solving, calmness, and how to wangle myself out of tight corners if need be,” added Gertze.  The happily retired honcho of the NQA is the proud custodian of impressive academic resume; BEd Honours, MBA, IRCA registered Quality Assurer.