Goals flood from Namibia
Kabelo Boranabi | Saturday September 3, 2022 06:00
The 28-year-old has a goal in every two games as per his ratio, making him one of the hottest goal poachers on the continent. He has scored 86 goals in 177 appearances in South Africa’s Premier Soccer League.
The striker leads an emerging crop of goal-getters from the relatively dry climate of Namibia. Botswana has had its share of the flood of goals from Namibia. In 2013, 16-time league champions, Township Rollers went through the western borders and brought home a striker by the name Jerome Louis.
He was relatively unknown on the local shores but brought a resume of a promising player. A top goal-scorer in three of his last four seasons before being shipped to Rollers, the Blues had a good man with goals in his boots.
The now 34-year-old did not disappoint in his time in Botswana, finishing as the league's second-leading goal-scorer on two occasions to go with being a top goal-scorer in the Mascom Top 8 competition.
Loius left a mark in Botswana and clubs started to look Namibia’s way. The western neighbours’ market was giving competition to that of Zimbabweans' and Zambians', which brought in strikers like Terrence Mandaza, Mwepu Musonda, Master Masitara, Bernard Simakwenzi, and the legendary Joseph Chikoti (late). Rollers’ city rivals, Gaborone United (GU) were second to follow with the acquisition of Benson Shilongo.
He arrived here as a youthful figure and had the big boots of Louis to fill. Despite being part of a troubled GU team, Shilongo’s goal exploits were the difference. He quickly caught the eye of clubs abroad. Shilongo moved to South Africa with Platinum Stars at the start of the 2016-2017 season. Five goals in 19 appearances for the club and the striker moved to Egypt.
There he spent four years with Pyramids, Smouha, and Ismaily and scored 23 goals in 99 appearances. He recently joined the Israeli side, Maccabi Bnei Raina. BDF XI also brought in another striker from the west in Roger Katjiteo. Unlike his two home boys, Katjiteo did not enjoy much success at the Army Boys. He, however, managed to be the team’s top goal-scorer in his first season at the Mogoditshane-based club.
Injuries disturbed the forward’s progress and he was allowed to return home. Jwaneng Galaxy’s Wendell Rudath was key in the team’s run in the Champions League. The striker was just six goals away from the top goal-scorer award in his debut season.
Masitaoka have one of the hottest foreign strikers in their ranks currently. Ambrosias Amseb finished the last campaign as the team’s top goal-scorer despite spending just half a season with the team.
The club has reportedly slapped a high price on the diminutive forward to fend off interest from potential suitors, with champions GU said to be keen on his signature. Popa have signed one more striker from Namibia in Denver Meyer. The striker has shown glimpses of being a good goal-poacher in the pre-season games and is said to have earned himself a two-year deal.