Remembering Bamfuchile’s Babes

Namibia’s football team has twice qualified for the African Cup of Nations (Afcon) with the first appearance coming in 1998.Ten years later, the Brave Warriors caused a major upset by beating out DR Congo, Libya and Ethiopia to qualify for the 2008 Afcon, which was held in Ghana.While the Class of 1998 is regularly celebrated with many of those players still regarded as household names, the same cannot be said of the latter group, who occasionally go about their business without much fanfare.This might be because the Class of 2008 were not given much chance of reaching Africa’s continental showpiece event after being drawn against Congo’s Leopards, Ethiopia’s Walias or Libya’s Mediterranean Knights.The Brave Warriors were at the time coached by Zambian Ben Bamfuchile, who was appointed in 2006. Having been credited with unearthing most of the players that eventually featured at the 2008 Afcon, the squad was appropriately nicknamed ‘Bamfuchile’s Babes’.With the Brave Warriors put in Group 10, the qualifiers did not start quite well for Namibia as they suffered a 3-2 loss to DR Congo in Kinshasa in September 2006.Sydney Plaatjies, who at the time was playing for South Africa’s Jomo Cosmos, scored both goals for the Brave Warriors.Crucial Their next match proved to be crucial as the Warriors recorded a 1-0 win over Ethiopia with Quinton ‘Magic’ Jacobs scoring an 18th minute penalty at the Sam Nujoma Stadium in October 2006.But the team suffered another away loss to Libya, this time going down 2-1 in Tripoli in March 2007 with the late Victor Helu getting Namibia’s goal.That would be the team’s last loss as they managed a 1-0 home win over Libya, with Collin Benjamin scoring the goal, on 2 June 2007 before holding DRC to a 1-1 draw two weeks later. Michael Pienaar got the goal against DRC.Heading into their final qualifier, Namibia had seven points and the team was faced with a tough away fixture against Ethiopia. Again little was expected and it appeared as the East African might win the match as they opened the scoring just before halftime. But Rudolf Bester equalised in the 64th minute. The parity would only last three minutes as the Ethiopians again found the back of the net. With about eight minutes left to play Bester, who was on the verge of being signed by a European team, again scored to level the scores at 2-2.Then it was time for Muna Katupose, who was only 19, to step up and score the winning goal for Namibia and secure the Brave Warriors place at the 2008 Afcon in Ghana.Tough drawAs destiny would have it, Namibia was drawn in the same group as hosts, Ghana, Morocco and Guinea, who were enjoying a golden spell led by the exciting Pascal Feindouno.Disaster also struck the team as Bamfuchile, who was 47 at the time died of illness on 27 December; merely two months prior to the start of the Afcon.As a result the Namibia Football Association (NFA) was forced to hastily recruit Dutch coach Arie Schans to lead the side.His unfamiliarity with the team was evidenced by the fact that only five players managed to start and complete Namibia’s three matches at the event.In the end Namibia lost 5-1 to Morocco in their opening game, push Ghana all the way in a 1-0 loss before drawing 1-1 with Guinea in their last match.Midfielder Brian Brendell scored both of Namibia’s goals at the tournament.Squad round up:GoalkeepersAthiel Mbaha: The well-travelled net minder played two matches at the 2008 event. Now 39, he was on the books of African Stars last season and was involved in the Brave Warriors as recently as 2014.Abisai Shiningayamwe: The goalkeeper, who was also known as Zico Paulus, had a long career with South Africa’s Jomo Cosmos and was in goal for Namibia during their opening match against Morocco. Ephraim Tjihonge: Aged just 21 at the 2008 event, the goalkeeper was being groomed to become Namibia’s number one but was mostly reduced to the role of deputy to Mbaha and later Virgil Vries. He had stints with several South African first division sides like African Warriors, Black Leopards and Milano United. He was on the books of the University of Namibia last season.DefendersRichard Gariseb: The Okahandja native is one of the players that featured in all of the Brave Warriors’ fixtures in Ghana. He played for South Africa’s Bidvest Wits but is fondly remembered as captain of Namibia’s version of Orlando Pirates. He played in India for a number of years and has retired from the game with his last appearance for Namibia coming against Burkina Faso in June 2011.Hartman Toromba: The defender was strangely absent from the match against Morocco but played in the other two matches. He played for South African clubs Black Leopards and Free State Stars and is a multiple Namibia Premier League winner with Black Africa. He retired from playing after 2013/14 season.Maleagi Ngarizemo: ‘Mali’ is an undoubted African Stars legend and was at the time signed to FC Cape Town. He did not play at the 2008 event and now owns Young African, a club that was recently promoted to the NPL.Michael Pienaar: Pienaar played in all three matches for Namibia. He had a stint in South Africa but has his best moments in the colours of local sides Ramblers and Orlando Pirates, with whom he was involved in a coaching capacity in 2014.Jeremiah Baisako: The left-sided defender did not play at the 2008 event. As a Polytechnic (now Namibia University of Science and Technology) graduate, he opted to focus on his studies in the years after the Ghana tournament.Jamunovandu Ngatjizeko: ‘Jamu’ is another one of the players that featured in all three Brave Warriors matches. The versatile player won the NPL with Civics and African Stars. He appears to have called it quits after the 2014/15 season. He now is heavily involved with community side, Truck Team.Franklin April: The left back played in the first match against Morocco. He sadly passed away last year having played his entire career for Civics.Gottlieb Nakuta: The Blue Waters stalwart did not play in Ghana but became a regular after the event. He occasionally still turns out for coastal side, Blue Waters.MidfieldersCollin Benjamin: Another player that featured in all of Namibia’s games in Ghana. He was arguably the most known player as he was turning out for Hamburg in Germany. He had a hand at coaching in the lower leagues of Germany before returning home last year.Oliver Risser: The defensive midfielder played in two matches in Germany. His last match for the Brave Warriors came in June 2011 against Burkina Faso.Levis Swartbooi: ‘Meraai’ is known for having one of the sweetest left foots in local football. He played in two matches in Ghana. He was on the books of African Stars last season.Abraham Shatimuene: ‘Letu’ was considered hot property leading up to the tournament but ended up only playing a bit part in Ghana; twice coming on as a late substitute in two matches. He is still an integral part of Tigers, whom he helped to NPL glory last season.Sydney Plaatjies: Sydney played in two matches in Ghana but would later move to Mamelodi Sundowns from Jomo Cosmos. His last game for the Brave Warriors came 2011.Brian Brendell: Namibia’s two goal hero also featured in all three of the Brave Warriors’ matches. For some reason, he never cemented a place in the side after the event.Quinton Jacobs: ‘Magic’ can easily make a run for Namibia’s finest midfielder and played in two matches before getting injured before the Brave Warriors last game against Guinea. He had several stints in South Africa (Black Leopards and Ajax Cape Town), Norway and India. He was last on the books of local club, Black Africa during the 2013/14 season.Wycliff Kambonde: The highly rated midfielder only featured as a second half substitute in the game against Guinea. He was signed to Jomo Cosmos at the time, but never lived up to the potential and retired early.StrikersRudolph Bester: Bester featured in all three matches without completing any one of the games. He has had a long career in South Africa’s topflight and was on the books of Moroka Swallows, who now campaign in that country third-tier league, last season. Muna Katupose: One of the famed Katupose twins (the other being Tara), Muna only played in Namibia’s final game against Guinea. He was signed to Black Africa over the last few seasons.Lazarus Kaimbi: Kaimbi featured in all of Namibia’s matches but did not finish any of the matches. Since the 2008 event, he has been in and out of the Brave Warriors and is currently based in Thailand.Pineas Jacob: ‘Picksa’ was tipped to be a star for Namibia and featured as a substitute in all three of Namibia’s matches. But while he was regularly part of the Brave Warriors squad in the years after the 2008 event, he never really settled in the side. He was last on the books of Black Africa during the 2014/15 season.HECTOR MAWONGA

Remembering Bamfuchile’s Babes

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Namibian Sun 2024-11-28

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Remembering Bamfuchile’s Babes

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Namibian Sun 2024-11-28

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