Former Hot Flames, Orlando Pirates, and Blue Waters Football Clubs’ burly net-buster Nicodemus ‘Jomo’ Hifitikeko, without a shadow of a doubt, is the elder son of local football legend Dawid ‘Big Fellah’ Snewe, famously baptised ‘Ondumbi’ by adoring followers of bitter rivals African Stars FC, and is an undisputed ‘Chip off the old Block’.
Heifitikeko is among the list of former players who have entered the underground space in the lucrative mining industry, alongside other prominent personalities, including former Eleven Arrows and national team midfielder Nghenny Emvula, Charley Aoseb, Jomo Doeseb, Fadiga Asino, Melvin Bruwer, Times Ipinge, Klaas Blom, Gottlieb Nakuta, Flokka van Rooyen, Big George Hummel, Stakes Guruseb, Chorra Kauendi, Brian Gurirab, and Bernadus Nowaseb.
New Era Sport takes a thorough look at the lifestyle of a few upright retired ‘footies’ and how life has been treating them after calling time on the game that has brought them fame, unforgettable moments, agony, ecstasy, and, of course, tears of joy.
Admittedly, whereas a significant chunk of their peers in the volatile, dog-eat-dog world of sport have sadly gone the wrong way upon retiring from playing competitive football as a result of taking hard knocks along the way, this resolute group of retirees is testimony that the beautiful game can be fully utilised beyond the playing field.
Proudly armed with a certificate in Operations management specialising in production operations and productivity management with a focus on improving efficiency, production processes, and workplace productivity, should have enough ammunition to make his peers green with envy.
The left-footed Hifitikeko teamed up with Carlos Nuseb to form the Swakopmund Sport Club. The pair was at the forefront advocating for the unavoidable resurrection of the popular biannual Chamber of Mines Multi-Sport Games.
Melvin Bruwer
Former Ramblers, Civics, and Blue Waters agile shot-stopper Melvin Bruwer, younger brother of former Brave Warriors charismatic goalkeeper Denna Bruwer, had also joined the mining industry, which is well paid.
The now-retired acrobatic goalie has found shelter with the globally acclaimed uranium giants, Swakop Uranium. The fearless Khomasdal-born goalie is the incumbent logistics officer in the supply chain department, responsible for logistics-related activities, including the coordination of transport and material movement to support mining operations.
Bruwer previously had a stint with Rossing Uranium, occupying the portfolio of Warehouse Officer in the supply chain department between 2008 and 2014. He amassed extensive experience in warehouse operations, inventory control, management and materials handling.
Linton Aseb Jnr.
Another chip off the old block, the highly gifted attacker Linton Aseb Junior’s genes suggested he would be a great footballer of note. After all, his old man, Linton Aseb Snr, was the designated poster boy of Otjiwarongo giants Black Marrokko Chiefs (BMC) and played professional football across the Orange River for Soweto giants Orlando Pirates in the mid-80s.
The nimble-footed dribbling wizard also represented his motherland in the prestigious South African Inter-Provincial Currie Cup with distinction. Following in dad’s footsteps, Linton Jnr played club football for his boyhood team BMC, the Katutura giants Black Africa, Mighty Gunners, Golden Bees, Tigers, Civics, and Blue Waters in that sequence.
Upon retiring from playing competitive football, Aseb relocated down the sea level only to resurface in the coastal holiday town of Swakopmund. He found employment with the Swakop Uranium Mine as a contractor. He is the incumbent head coach of the Mine Football team, which competes in the hotly contested Inter-Mines Multisport Games.
Charley Aoseb
Fellow homeboy Charley Aoseb, a product of Okarundu Primary School in his native town, Otjiwarongo, boasts a filthy-rich resume in the game. The much-travelled attacker has represented Namibia at all age groups, in addition to a pair of senior caps on his radar. The quicksilver winger tasted the mineral waters of international football at youth tournaments on European soil.
The pocket-sized attacker made his mark in the country’s top-flight league with Life Fighters, Blue Waters, Eleven Arrows, Ramblers, and Chief Santos. He remains a prominent figure in society, always engaging and providing guidance through motivational speeches at public gatherings. Aoseb advises young people to stay on the straight and narrow whilst cautioning them against the evils of society, chiefly the consequences of bad behaviour. The now-retired speedy winger works for the B-Gold Mine.
Theodore Tom
One of the most prominent footballers in history to have emerged from the remote Opuwo settlement, home to the unyielding indigenous Himba tribe, former Golden Bees, Black Africa, Blue Waters, and Brave Warriors overlapping fullback Theodore Tom’s remarkable upsurge in the domestic topflight league was regrettably and abruptly disrupted by demanding work commitments at the Rossing Uranium Mine, where he was employed as a salted Operator.
The strongly built defender’s duties required putting in extra hours (overtime), thus restricting his availability for training sessions. Nevertheless, the tireless, hard-galloping fullback is still full of energy, holding the fort for the Inter-Mines Veteran team.
Ted ‘Fadiga’ Asino
Arguably the finest all-rounder of his generation, a devastating left-footed attacker, Asino was no ordinary player. The boy was a complete package, equipped with all the ingredients of an elite athlete.
Fantastic ball technique and goal-scoring prowess, second to none. Fadiga was the envy of every neutral football fan. Played club football for the youthful Soweto outfit Hotspurs, followed by short-lived stints with coastal giants Eleven Arrows and the Donkerhoek outfit Tigers at different intervals.
As fate would have it, his blossoming football career was abruptly cut short when a series of career-threatening ankle injuries curtailed his progress whilst still at the pinnacle of an otherwise flourishing career. Asino holds the position of Logistics Officer at Namdeb.
Big George Hummel
An offspring of the highly gifted football-playing Hummel siblings, Big George was destined for greatness, following in the footsteps of his old man, Pius, and equally talented uncles Stoeier, Phonie, Alu, Babes, and Browny. The big-frame striker-cum-defender started out with Karasburg’s leading outfit, Tornado. However, he only rose to prominence after being recruited by Nampol, before stints with Chief Santos, Orlando Pirates, and Eleven Arrows.
The brother managed, despite all the odds stacked against his rookie tag, to nail a place in the Brave Warriors starting eleven, accumulating 41 caps. He was signed by Jomo Cosmos, Marrroko Swallows and Hellenic in the South African Professional Soccer League (PSL) before being snapped up by Russian second-tier campaigners Luch Vladivostck, becoming the first and only Namibian to play in the Russian league.
Upon retirement, Big George found employment with HSSE Hope and Gorob Mine, located approximately 120 kilometres south-east of Walvis-Bay. The now-retired ‘footie’ held various roles, ranging from HSE Officer to Superintendent, and was subsequently promoted to Manager.
Brian Gurirab
Biological son of another football legend, the late Gotty Gurirab, Brian was a fantastic baller who played club football for Chief Santos and Civics. The midfield kingpin also played professionally for Angolan giants Primeiro de Maio. He joined Orlando Pirates in the country’s top-flight league before hanging up his boots. The stocky midfielder retired to his native town, Karibib, where he found employment with Navachab Gold Mine as Plant Attendant.
Klaas Blom
Another well-polished gem from the south, Blom was a football genius par excellence. He was a fantastic attacking midfielder who mesmerised robust defenders with sheer skill and football intelligence second to none. An outright crowd favourite, the boy from Kitmaro played football the way the game should be played. Strangely, he turned out for bitter rivals Orlando Pirates and Black Africa. Blom works for Rosh Pinah Zinc as a senior multi-skilled operator.
Gottlieb Nakuta
Arriving at Blue Waters in 2003 under the stewardship of Hendrik Dawid, the hard-tackling defender enjoyed a stellar career that included call up to the Brave Warriors squad. He entered the mining sector when Dawid offered him a position at Erongo Contract Services as a general worker. After two years of service, Nakuta rose through the ranks and was duly promoted to Assistant Welder. His next stop was Rossing Uranium Mine, where he secured a position as a Laboratory Technician before transitioning to the plum portfolio of Senior Processing Operator. Nakuta is the proud custodian of a Welding Certificate from NAMEI, in addition to a Diploma in Management obtained from STDAIA.
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