Kickoff (Cape Town)
7 January 2009
Former Mamelodi Sundowns' Namibian goalkeeper turned coach, Ronnie Kanalelo is back in the Absa Premiership at Maritzburg United, and news is that three more of his countrymen are to follow shortly.
First to arrive is likely to be former Kaizer Chiefs and Moroka Swallows defender Mohammed Ouseb who is being sought by AmaZulu and First Division Coastal Stream outfits Ikapa Sporting and Vasco da Gama.
The former Brave Warriors central defender, who was voted the 1998/99 KickOff Footballer of the Year, last played for Moroka Swallows, is also said to be wanted by Mpumalanga Black Aces.
Ouseb, now 34, made a triumphant return to the game in December when scored on debut while turning out for Namibia's Orlando Pirates.
"They have all expressed interest in him because of his experience and knowing that he is now active, the interest even came from a Premiership side," the player's agent Collin April told Namibian Sport.
"I think it will be good for him to rekindle his career because his experience will help some of these teams to be successful."
April also disclosed that Tigers goal-getter Tangeni Shipahu is set to go for trials with defending Absa Premiership champions SuperSport United.
"Coach Gavin Hunt has expressed interest in Shipahu after he finished as second top goal scorer in the Namibia League last season.
"He will definitely go for trials at SuperSport as Hunt wants to see him. I saw him in a couple of games this season and I think he has the potential to make it into the SuperSport set-up," says April.
Another Namibian player who will be leaving for trials is current African Stars assistant coach Mali Ngarizemo.
He is set for trials at First Division Inland Stream outfit Black Leopards who currently have Namibian Ephraim Tjihonge as their number one keeper.
April also disclosed that Jomo Cosmos midfielder Quinton 'Magic' Jacobs and FC AK striker Costa Khaiseb will possibly be leaving for Israel soon for trials with one of the top flight teams in that country.
He said negotiations were still on and he could not reveal the names of the teams.
"We are still talking to Jomo (Sono) to see if he could agree on the terms to release Jacobs, while it is the same with Khaiseb. So it is a wait and see, but it is likely that these two players will play in Israel soon," he said.
April says his target is to get at least 35 players into the South African leagues by 2010, but if there are more, it will be a bonus.
"We have over 20 players in that League now and it will be good to reach the 30 mark or beyond in the World Cup year," he said.
April believes that players ought to get a better life by playing in lucrative foreign leagues rather than the domestic leagues.
He says although some teams in the Namibian domestic leagues support the players financially, they are not exposed to the best of training facilities and do not compete for bigger financial rewards in cup competitions and leagues such as in South Africa and elsewhere.
Kanalelo return to South Africa, where is to join Gordon Igesund's technical bench as keeper coach, appears to have been precipitated by a confrontation he had with an angry mob during December.
KickOff.com reported at the time that fans threatened 'to beat the hell out of him' after his charges Black Africa went down 2-1 to Civics.
The huge former minder who was also an assistant coach with Namibia national team, Warriors, pulled a gun and fired a shot in the air, sending the unruly fans scattering in all directions.
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