Covid leaves sporting fraternity devastated

THE Namibian sporting fraternity is reeling after at least five former football players died in the space of two weeks from Covid-19.

Recent deaths include former Black Africa forward Lucky ‘Bazooka’ Richter and prolific former Tigers goal-poacher Frans ‘Forester’ Nicodemus.

Richter, who was the chairperson of Black Africa, died during what was supposed to have been a business trip to Cape Town, while Nicodemus succumbed to Covid-19 on Saturday.

Richter was one of the finest players to have graced Namibian soil.

He was one of the players, alongside his Black Africa teammate David ‘Fellah’ Snewe, to have signed professional contracts with South African outfit Bloemfontein Celtic in the mid-1980s.

Richter also represented Namibia at all levels and also coached various national teams.

He was not an easy player to play against because of his trickery with a soccer ball.

Nicodemus, on the other hand, will be remembered for his goal-scoring ability and one can confidently say that he was probably one the finest strikers of his generation.

Just like Richter, Nicodemus also starred for the pre-independence junior national teams, and they were both an integral part of the Brave Warriors shortly after independence.

The Walvis Bay community is mourning the death of Lucas Aupapa Hipondoka, who was the first black racing driver in Namibia, whose driving skills took him to countries like Switzerland long before Namibia’s independence. Hipondoka was also a key player for Blue Waters back in the day and is still regarded highly by the club’s faithful because of the sterling role he played in the heart of the team’s defence.

He also proved to be a comedian of note and he made a few appearances on the South African Broadcasting Corporation’s Afrikaans television service.

His long-time friend and former opponent on the playing field, Elliot ‘Oom Paul’ Hiskia, also succumbed to the coronavirus.

The towering former Tigers defender was also an administrator of note. Hiskia was first a member of the South West Africa Football Association before the country’s independence and later became a prominent member of the Namibia National Soccer League (today’s Namibia Premier League), after which he served as the president of the Namibia Football Association.

He also became a prominent member of the Namibia Sports Commission through his football connections and is considered one of the best administrators in pre- and post-independent Namibia.

Hiskia was visiting his friend Hipondoka at Walvis Bay and they had enquired about a contact number for Kaizer Chiefs owner Kaizer Motaung, as they wanted to be with the Chiefs entourage to travel to Morocco for the Africa Champions League final against Al Ahly. Earlier, the nation was also rocked by the death of former boxing referee Harry ‘Grahms’ Garus-oab, who was also a renowned goalkeeper with his hometown outfit Battle Boys from Okahandja.

Garus-oab was said to have been battling the coronavirus for nearly three weeks before he finally succumbed a fortnight ago.

Namibia is also mourning the death of former sports writer Kambombo Kayele Kambombo, who was a star striker with Blue Waters at Walvis Bay during his playing days. Also known as McBright, the former Namibia Today writer, who penned a book about the Brave Warriors, won many trophies with the Beautiful Birds before he went into exile.

The veteran sportswriter was battling with his health in recent years, but appeared as if he was regaining full fitness until he was struck down by the Covid-19 monster.