Gerros Uri-khob: From ‘bomber’ to technician

GERVATIUS ‘Gerros’ Uri-khob is considered to be the most powerful kicker and the best free-kick taker of his generation.

He unleashed a thunderous pile-driver from almost 30 metres out to beat the Angolan goalkeeper during Namibia’s historic first appearance at the African Cup of Nations group match in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso in 1998.

Uri-khob was nicknamed ‘The Bomber’ during his illustrious career at Chief Santos and the Brave Warriors.

He wowed football fans countrywide with his spectacular shots, which became the dread of many a goalkeeper.

The Namibian Sport caught up with the former free-kick specialist.

Uri-khob today is a liquid fuel dispenser technician at AR Solutions Specialists.

“My job basically is to fix fuel pumps for all the oil companies in the country. We received trade training in Windhoek, and I am responsible for repairing pumps in the maize triangle, including Otjiwarongo, Omuthiya, Nkurenkuru, Rundu and Katima Mulilo.

“Initially I got in-service training from my late brother Corry Uri-khob. It is a very challenging but rewarding job, which has enabled me to live a very comfortable life with my wife and three sons. I could seriously not have asked for a better job,” he says.

Uri-khob says although he loves his job it can be very demanding and challenging at times – especially when he has to travel long distances.

“Going there is no problem, but to go there to fix just one pump is such a waste of time and resources, but what can we do? Work is work. Some of the work that needs to be done could just be fixed over the telephone, but our company is very serious about hands-on service,” he says.

The former Chief Santos striker married his childhood girlfriend, Yolande, in 2009.

They have three sons.

Gerriano (22) is a football-playing paramedic who had a stint at Chief Santos, but is now back at his father’s football academy.

Gemore (17) was part of the u13 national team that toured Botswana five years ago, and Gervino, who also plays soccer.

His dad jokes that he is naughtiest of the three.

Uri-khob says his late brother Corry and his late mother, Agatha, had the biggest influence in his football career.

Corry was a star defender with Chief Santos before he became the multiple award-winning Tsumeb outfit’s team manager after retiring.

“My brother helped me a lot with shaping not only my football career, but with many aspects of my life. He was always there for me and he would never hesitate to help me. My mother was the one who instilled discipline in me as a single parent,” Uri-khob says.

His toughest opponents were Tolly van Wyk of Ramblers FC and the late former Orlando Pirates hardman Salathiel ‘Stimela’ Ndjao, he says.

He says he found it very difficult to play against these two defenders.

TEACHING OTHERS

Uri-khob is still involved with football, and runs the Gerros Uri-khob Football Academy, which he established 2014 with the help of his wife.

“We have about 160 registered players and the academy caters to players from the u8 level to u19 level. We initially charged a registration fee of N$50 for the members, however, not all the children can afford to pay, so we stopped charging.

“I am now mainly relying on the directors of the academy, like Amos Shiyuka, Leonard ‘Jay-Jay’ Moses and Victor Lucas for monetary support. It is really good of them – otherwise this academy would have crumbled a long time ago,” he says.

WORK-LIFE BALANCE

Uri-khob says there is time for work and family in his life.

He says he grew up kicking around a soccer ball in the dusty streets of Nomtsoub township, like any other young boy of his age.

He mastered the art of kicking with the outside and inside of his foot and, most importantly, how to balance his body over the soccer ball, he says.

A little-known fact about the former sharpshooter is that doctors advised that his legs be amputated when he was a baby because he was bow-legged.