Africa-Press – Namibia. HISTORY will always remember Berlin ‘Pancho’ Augumeb as the man who scored the last-gasp winner for Namibia against South Africa’s Bafana Bafana at Independence Stadium in Windhoek in 1998.
The match was contested in the regional Cosafa Cup, with Augumeb coming on as a second substitute with the two countries level 2-all, before he pounced on a pass inside the South African penalty area to thumb a right-footed striker past a bewildered Brian Baloyi in the 100th minute of the match to secure a sensational 3-2 victory for the Brave Warriors.
Born near Khorixas in the Kunene region, Augumeb grew up at Tsumeb and completed his school career there. “Despite coming from a prominent football family, I was a very slow developer who could not even play for the school’s third team. I was really not into football . . . I was more into dancing.
“It was when I moved to Otjiwarongo that my interest in football was sparked, and I decided to join the local team, BMC FC, in 1992. I even surprised myself when I finished as the top scorer of the preseason tournament we participated in,” Augumeb says.
The son of the acclaimed late Chief Santos striker Sackarias ‘Selle’ Augumeb went on to become one of the finest and most feared strikers in the country, which also warranted a national team call-up.
“I secured a job at Walvis Bay on the same day I was called up to the national team for the second time, and I could unfortunately not join the training camp to Germany in 1996 – something I regret to this day.
“What really saddened me is the fact that I resigned from my job after just five months due to backache,” he says.
Augumeb enjoyed a four-year stint with crack Kuisebmund outfit Blue Waters, winning the 1999 version of the NFA Cup, but not before he first shone in the colours of his boyhood team Chief Santos, with whom he had enjoyed CNFA Cup glory in 1997.
There were also trial spells with South African professional outfit Jomo Cosmos in between Blue Waters and Chief Santos, and Augumeb says he regrets choosing a loan spell back to Namibia instead of opting to go to Black Leopards, who were playing in the first division at the time.
“I can, however, claim that I played alongside the legendary Ephraim ‘Jomo’ Sono, although it was just an exhibition match between Jomo Cosmos and South African football giants Orlando Pirates in Soweto, Johannesburg. Jomo (Sono) is someone I idolise very much.
“I was also involved in another high-octane friendly match in 2000 when I played opposite the former Kaizer Chiefs ace goal poacher Marks ‘Pro’ Maponyane, who’s playing style I also liked, because he was a striker who constantly threatened goalkeepers,” he says.
Augumeb, who hung up his boots in 2008 during his second spell with Santos, considers the 1-0 NFA Cup victory over Tigers as his most memorable match in a Santos jersey, since he laid on the decisive pass from which Mohammed ‘Slice’ Ouseb scored the only goal of the match.
“Some people say I was robust, and others claim I was very aggressive on the football field. However, I remember myself as a player who wouldn’t pull back from a tackle. I would also like to remember myself as someone who kept the defenders busy,” he says.
WORK, FAMILY The prolific goalscorer returned to Santos in 2003 from Walvis Bay and started as a financial planner in First National Bank’s insurance department. He currently lives at Otjiwarongo, and his sights are set on starting his own business.
“Although I am tempted to, I can unfortunately not reveal the nature of the business yet, but it will definitely involve finances, because that is what I am comfortable with.
“I am really excited to be starting my own business, and with God on my side I’m sure I’m going to make a positive start,” he says. Augumeb says certain policies implemented by governments all over the world, including our own, hamper economies.
“The coronavirus is not only a challenge to the Namibian economy, but has posed challenges even to some of the biggest economies. But with God on my side, I trust my business will flourish,” he says.
Augumeb has six children, of which the eldest daughter is named after Burkina Faso, because she was born while her father was on national duty with the Brave Warriors at the 98 African Cup of Champions in that country.
“My family gives me hope every single day of my life. The love and unity of my family is so strong right now that no evil force or bad spirit in this world could break that formidable bond,” he says.
His advice to aspiring young players is to embrace and value their talent. “If someone gets to the level that he is considered as talented, let him be humble and not proud. If I become rich I must be humble, and not proud of my wealth,” he says.
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