Africa-Press – Namibia. FORMER Chief Santos and Black Africa goalkeeper Arnold Subeb is the epitome of the modern-day goalkeeper – agile, brave and comfortable with the ball at his feet.
Subeb also holds the distinction of being the only goalkeeper to win the Namibia Premier League’s goalkeeper of the season, player’s player of the season and player of the season awards, while he was named Namibia Sport’s player of the season and player’s player of the season in 2004/5.
Born and bred in the copper town of Tsumeb, the towering goalie grew up kicking a soccer ball in the dusty streets of Nomtsoub township, just like other boys of his generation. Unlike his peers who enjoyed playing infield, Subeb knew then already that the goalkeeper position was one he was born to play.
“I loved keeping goal and, although I enjoyed playing as a midfielder and striker at times, I would always go back between the sticks.
“I would always watch Chief Santos practise, and dream about the day that I would be playing for my childhood team. Santos to me is like a family team because my cousins and brother played for the club before me. The name Subeb is synonymous with the club.”
At the age of 16 he started at the club, acting as a training partner for their goalkeeper, Marcellus ‘Ou Orde’ Witbeen. But before than, Subeb played prolifically for St Francis Primary School in an era that saw the school dominating leagues and tournaments.
It was during his time at Otjikoto Secondary School, when he played under coach Lance Hauuanga, that Subeb discovered he had a good eye for the goal and was encouraged to attack corner-kicks, from which he scored a handful of goals.
In between his football heroics, Subeb found enough time to attend boxing, karate and tennis classes, and it came as no surprise when the Namibia Schools Sport Union came knocking. The reward was participation in the Gothia Cup in Sweden and the Helsinki Cup in Finland.
Subeb finally got his break for Santos during the Top Four Challenge Cup, after Witbeen pulled a hamstring 20 minutes into the first semi-final match against the mighty Orlando Pirates.
He went on to play in his first final against Civics, and despite succumbing to the Mighty Civilians after a penalty shoot-out, Subeb can take pride in the fact that he managed to stop Civics’ first two penalties.
The tournament served as a great marketing tool for Subeb, who returned back home with the goalkeeper of the tournament gong. But still there was no starting berth for Subeb who had to languish Witbeen’s shadow.
Motivated by frustration a good two years later, Subeb accepted Ali Akhan’s offer to join Black Africa (BA) in Windhoek, and become the club’s number one.
“I don’t regret joining BA because I became an important part of their rebuilding process as we swept most of the cup competitions including a triple Windhoek Lager NFA Cup, New Era President Cup and the season-opening FNB Charity Cup for four seasons.
“I was also able to attract the attention of the national team selectors and I am proud to have played eight times for the Brave Warriors after making my debut against Angola in Luanda in 2007. I also played two times each against Mozambique, Zambia and Zimbabwe,” he says.
And, although losing 2-0 against Angola, Subeb considers that match as his best for Namibia after making multiple saves, including a point-blank shot from former Angolan superstar Flavio, who played for Egyptian giants Al Ahly at the time. Subeb also enjoyed a three-year roller-coaster with Mvela League club FC AK in South Africa.
“That is a part of history that I want to wipe from my memory for good. I was convinced by Akhan to link up with him and five other Namibian players in the lower professional ranks of South Africa after he was appointed coach of FC AK in 2007.
“We entered into a gentleman’s agreement that I would only be registered with the club the following year because of the foreign quota rule and I was only subjected to friendly matches to stay fit.”
Nothing tangible came at the beginning of the following season but he asked his Namibian national teammate Richard Gariseb if he’d ask his coach at newly-promoted Wits University if he could train with them, and was invited for trials instead.
He came second after Zimbabwean international goalie Energy Murambadoro and coach Roger de Sá tried to link him up with a loan spell with Ajax Cape Town, but the Namibian decided to return to Johannesburg instead.
His contract with Wits was eventually terminated two months before the start of the World Cup tournament in South Africa in 2010, after which he decided to return home to Namibia where he went on to become part of the BA team that won the Namibia Premier League for a record unmatched four consecutive years.
Subeb, who wants to be remembered as a goalkeeper who made a difference, also got a taste of African Champions League football in 2014, after the Lively Lions were ousted by South African glamour club Kaizer Chiefs in the preliminary round of the competition.
The self-employed computer software and hardware technician is a father of four. He says although the IT business is a very lucrative, the Covid-19 pandemic has brought its own challenges.
“Most smaller companies have been relying heavily on government tenders but they have dried up amid the country’s poor economic situation.
“I used to sustain myself very well with annual and monthly service contracts, especially to service the networks of schools around the city, but even they are struggling financially at the moment,” he says.
In addition to his day job, Subeb is also a goalkeeper coach and coaching instructor currently involved with the girls u-17 team and the under-20 national team that recently engaged their Burundian counterparts in the u-20 Women’s World Cup qualifiers. Subeb rates Witbeen as the person who most shaped his goalkeeping career, as well as mentor Gerrors ‘The Bomber’ Uri-khob.
He also has Akhan to thank for giving him a chance to shine on the biggest stage with the country’s most successful club, and says he owes his decision to become a junior coaching instructor to former BA, Mamelodi Sundowns and Brave Warriors goalie Ronnie ‘The Magnet’ Kanalelo.
“Compete against yourself by setting yourself personal goals and targets. Be humble while you always keep your faith and be grateful to our heavenly Father for the talent, and remember that hard work pays off,” he advises young players.
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