Goalie with hearing and speech impairment mentors future stars

Athiel Mbaha, who has a hearing and speech impairment, was not your average footballer.

Few goalkeepers have scaled the same heights as the former African Stars, Blue Waters, Orlando Pirates and Tigers goaltender.

“I was not born this way. I was like any other young child my age. I could speak and hear very well until when I was six years old. I started to develop problems with my tongue when I turned seven,” he says.

“I spent four months at Windhoek Central Hospital because I could not eat because of my tongue. I attended a special school, where I learnt how to speak.

“I wear a hearing aid in my left ear, which helps me when people are calling me . . . I can hear a little bit.”

Mbaha won a Namibian Premier League title with Blue Waters and Orlando Pirates each.

Born in Windhoek, he grew up at Otjinene village in the Omaheke region, while he started his football career at Okakarara, where he was spotted by African Stars.

“I first started as a defensive midfielder before I was converted into a goalkeeper by our coach. I was playing for my hostel team when our goalkeeper was sent off.

“My coach asked me to keep goal because I was the tallest in our team. We drew the match one-all,” he says.

“We went into a penalty shootout during which I saved three kicks, and the coach decided there and then that I am the new goalie of the team.

“Having been an upfield player is why I was always comfortable with the ball at my feet. I became a goalie by chance.”

Mbaha says he was driven by his disability to do well and to inspire people with disabilities.

He enjoyed most of his success on the football pitch with harbour town giants Blue Waters, with whom he has also won the MTC Cup in 2003 and the FNB Cup in 2005 on top of the league title in the 2003/4 season.

“I was also named player of the tournament for both cups, adding to the player of the year and most improved player of the year titles I won at African Stars in 2000. The closest I came to winning the league with Stars was third place in 2000,” Mbaha says.

“My league title with Orlando Pirates came in 2007 under Hendrick Davids, who was also chairman of Blue Waters when we won the league.

“The league title with Pirates was special, because it appropriately ended a 40-year wait for the Sea Robbers.”

The former goalie joined Ramblers after winning the league with Pirates, where he finished league runners-up while he achieved another third place with Tigers as well.

But before he joined Pirates, Mbaha spent two seasons with Black Leopards in the South African Premier League, while he also had a one-year spell with Maritzburg United.

“It was never going to be easy for me, particularly because of my condition, and I was required to be on top of my game to keep my spot as the number-one goalkeeper of all the teams I played,” he says.

“Despite being a goalkeeper I constantly work on my stamina and goalkeeping skills. I really worked extra hard during my training sessions. I am lucky to have been working under Immanuel ‘Sparks’ Gotlieb at the four top teams I have played for.”

In 2015, Mbaha achieved the feat of keeping 25 clean sheets from 30 games, which means he conceded goals in five games only, to also be named Stars’ best goalkeeper of the year.

The retired goalkeeper reckons his real challenge was to play for the national team.

“To play for the national team was already a challenge, but to be the Brave Warriors’ number one for 10 years between 2004 and 2014 was not easy.

“I made my debut for the national team away to Lesotho during a 2-1 away win in Maseru,” he says.

“My biggest achievement with the national team is when I helped my country qualify for the 2008 African Cup of Nations (Afcon) in Ghana.

“My most memorable game with the national team is our narrow 1-0 loss to Ghana during the Afcon finals. I played my heart out.”

Mbaha also mentions the 1-1 draw against Guinea during the same tournament and the 1-1 draw against Bafana Bafana during an international friendly in Durban in 2010 as his other two most memorable matches in a Brave Warriors jersey.

Bafana Bafana’s draw was specifically memorable because it was achieved before they hosted the Fifa World Cup.

Mbaha is also an exceptional chess player and the winner of the Blitz Independence Chess Tournament in 2017.

WORK, FAMILY

The former footballer has four children and is currently the goalkeeper coach of league champions African Stars.

Apart from being a coach (he has two Fifa licences and one from the NFA) he is also a part-time farmer.

“Football is my passion and my lifestyle . . . I am the goalkeeper coach with African Stars, and I am just too pleased to share my experience with the youngsters. I enjoy pushing them to the limit, because I want them to go out of this country and go play at the top level and earn a better income.”

Mbaha, who says his dream is to obtain a professional coaching licence, still plays for the African Stars Legends, while he is also keeping goals for the Aweh Aweh soccer team, which is made up of former national team players.

“My advice to young players is to work hard and not to allow your physical shortcomings to deter you from achieving your life goals.

“Avoid associating with the wrong people. Stay away from alcohol and drugs, because you can’t waste your God-given talent,” he says.