Amos Shiyuka to retire

FORMER Brave Warriors vice captain Amos Shiyuka will bring his illustrious football career to an end when his Civics team plays in a testimonial match against a legendary South African side later this year.

Shiyuka made the announcement in Windhoek yesterday, saying that he will hang up his boots after the June 30 match. Civics will consist of former players who will play for the first 45 minutes, before the current crop of players will complete the other half.The opposition will mostly include former South African national team players such as Doctor Khumalo, Shoes Moeshoeu, Linda Buthelezi, and Phil Masinga.The venue for the match will be announced later.Shiyuka, who has captained the under-17, -20 and -23 national football sides, said he was quitting the game because of the nagging injuries to both his knees.”It is not pleasant for any sportsman to play with pain.I don’t want to suffer this pain anymore,” he said.He asked his fans to understand and respect his decision.He said he enjoyed the best part of his football career after joining Civics in 2004.”I have not been the most talented footballer, but dedication and courage took me through my career.This, along with discipline, can get you anywhere,” he said.Shiyuka accumulated more than 15 caps as a junior player for the different age groups.The central defender, who has also been the captain of Civics for more than four seasons, said he was prepared to help his team win the league, as they have only seven matches left before the end.”I will be happy if we win the league because it will be a nice sending-off for my career on especially club level,” he said.The testimonial match will according to Shiyuka also serve as a charity event, as they aim to provide football kit to various schools and development academies.Khumalo said he would bring the best squad to Namibia and thanked Shiyuka for considering former South African players for his testimonial match.Shiyuka will only be the second player to have a testimonial match in his honour after Ricardo Mannetti.Mannetti decided to call it a day after he also played for his country, while he spent most of his career as a professional in South Africa.Mannetti, like Shiyuka also played for Civics before he became a professional in the South African Premier Soccer League.The event will also be spiced up with local and South African music groups, including Gazza, Mdu Masilela and Trompies.Details on ticket sales will be announced in due course.Civics will consist of former players who will play for the first 45 minutes, before the current crop of players will complete the other half.The opposition will mostly include former South African national team players such as Doctor Khumalo, Shoes Moeshoeu, Linda Buthelezi, and Phil Masinga.The venue for the match will be announced later.Shiyuka, who has captained the under-17, -20 and -23 national football sides, said he was quitting the game because of the nagging injuries to both his knees.”It is not pleasant for any sportsman to play with pain.I don’t want to suffer this pain anymore,” he said.He asked his fans to understand and respect his decision.He said he enjoyed the best part of his football career after joining Civics in 2004.”I have not been the most talented footballer, but dedication and courage took me through my career.This, along with discipline, can get you anywhere,” he said.Shiyuka accumulated more than 15 caps as a junior player for the different age groups.The central defender, who has also been the captain of Civics for more than four seasons, said he was prepared to help his team win the league, as they have only seven matches left before the end.”I will be happy if we win the league because it will be a nice sending-off for my career on especially club level,” he said.The testimonial match will according to Shiyuka also serve as a charity event, as they aim to provide football kit to various schools and development academies.Khumalo said he would bring the best squad to Namibia and thanked Shiyuka for considering former South African players for his testimonial match.Shiyuka will only be the second player to have a testimonial match in his honour after Ricardo Mannetti.Mannetti decided to call it a day after he also played for his country, while he spent most of his career as a professional in South Africa.Mannetti, like Shiyuka also played for Civics before he became a professional in the South African Premier Soccer League.The event will also be spiced up with local and South African music groups, including Gazza, Mdu Masilela and Trompies.Details on ticket sales will be announced in due course.