Former star goalie now inspires others

Former Eleven Arrows and junior national team goalkeeper Cecil ‘Dahle’ Mutilifa is one of the most flamboyant goaltenders this country has produced.

He is known and liked for his discipline and humbleness on and off the football pitch.

Although he retired from playing active football 19 years ago, the former star goalie is still a recognisable figure on the streets of Walvis Bay.

Born at Otjiwarongo 55 years ago, Mutilifa moved to Walvis Bay as a toddler, where he went to Immanuel Ruiters Primary School and subsequently to Kuisebmond Secondary School.

“It was during my years at Ruiters that I first started playing street soccer as a striker. I only switched to goalkeeper after I broke my leg. The regular goalie was absent one day and I was asked to help out in goals, and my teammates convinced me to remain in goals.

“I must admit that I really enjoyed myself in my new role. Maybe it was a good omen for me to break my leg and switch to goalkeeper, because soon after I was drafted into the under-10 side of former premier league outfit Eleven Arrows,” Mutilifa said.

Before he knew it he was thrown into the deep end by the harbour town giants after regular goalkeeper was not available for the games.

“I was only 15 when Arrows asked me to stand in for regular goalie Immanuel ‘Sparks’ Gottlieb . . .

“I really stood my ground during those matches against Orlando Pirates and African Stars,” he says.

Mutilifa also enjoyed success with the western under-16 invitational team that toured Otjiwarongo and Tsumeb, and later on the under-20 regional team that went to play at Omaruru and Arandis.

He played for the Arrows and even helped his team reach the final of the JPS Cup in 1988, which they eventually won thanks to a penalty shootout against bitter rivals Blue Waters at Kuisebmond Stadium.

Mutilifa guarded the goal from Arrows’ opening match of the competition until the semi-finals, with (Sparks) Gottlieb preferred for the final.

Once the goalkeeper of the year of Kuisebmond Secondary School in the 1980s, Mutilifa also won a local Eastern Tournament with Arrows, before winning the Namibian Premier League with them in 1991.

“During that same year I was also selected for the Erongo Regional Invitational X1 that played a friendly against the visiting Russian Premier League outfit Spartak Moscow at Swakopmund, because Walvis was still not reintegrated with Namibia at the time.

“We tried our level best, but the Russians completely overwhelmed us, and we were taught a free football lesson that day,” he says.

The year 1991 also saw Arrows winning the premier league and becoming the first Namibian club to participate in the prestigious Confederation of African Football (CAF) Champions League.

The coastal giants were eliminated from the competition by Lesotho giants Arsenal after an eye-opening two-legged preliminary round battle.

Mutilifa was then called up to the national under-23 outfit, when Namibia hosted a mini Southern African Under-23 tournament under coach Shepherd Murabe and his assistant, Eric Muinjo.

At least eight Arrows’ players were called up to the under-23 team.

“I must say Arrows had the most formidable squad in the country at that time. It didn’t thus come as a surprise when we clinched the Namibian Premier League and went on the represent our country in the CAF Championship, albeit briefly,” he says.

Mutilifa, who was on the under-23 team that was supposed to engage another regional counterpart in a failed match to celebrate Africa Day in 1992, was also part of one of the two teams that were selected to engage in a fundraiser for the late Tigers Ndapewa ‘Bricks’ Hangula.

The former junior national team star also had brief spells with Blue Waters in 1989, while he donned the colours of Orlando Pirates the following year.

WORK, FAMILY

The retired goalie married Magdalena Mutilifa in 2007 and the couple has two children.

Mutilifa also has 13 children from previous relationships, of which two have died.

“I have no regrets about the number of children I have. In fact, I consider them a blessing. I love all my children, and they love me.

“I have reunited with them. They all love each other as brothers and sisters, and we are one big family,” he says.

Mutilifa says his only regret is that he has missed out on the opportunity to play football in South Africa.

“My mother refused to allow me to go because I am her only child, and that decision really broke my heart, because I always wanted to play at the bigger level. But I am okay with it now.”

Mutilifa retired early from Cadilu Fishing Company in February after 22 years of serving the company as a production supervisor.

“I am now living a quiet life and am only working on further strengthening my relationship with my children, with whom I have built a very strong bond.

“I have a very supportive wife and we have embarked on this life journey together,” he says.

A devoted member of the Immanuel Pentecostal Mission Church, he says he keeps himself busy by encouraging people and giving motivational speeches at schools and memorial services.

He also wrote a book, titled ‘From Goalkeeper to Soul Winner’, to be released soon.

Mutilifa’s advice to young footballers is: “Respect yourself, respect your coaches, appreciate your talent, invest wisely in the future, and support your relatives.”