Africa-Press – Namibia. PETRUS Shitembi is looking to the future with renewed optimism after a nightmare 2021 season spent largely on the treatment table.
The 29-year-old playmaker suffered the misfortune of “a career-threatening” knee injury that kept him out of action since February last year. The long spell on the sidelines meant he did not feature for Malaysian giants Terengganu after joining the club amid much fanfare from rivals Sabah in January.
“Last season was obviously challenging for me. Pretty early in the season, I got a devastating injury that kept me out the whole year. I had to go under the knife and had to do the rehabilitation process, which takes a minimum six months and up to nine months,” he recently told Enoke Kaumba on Desert Radio’s sports round up.
A return to competitive action continues to edge ever closer, which is a welcome relief for the gifted footballer. “I’m looking forward to going back to what I love doing. It’s been really long. It was challenging, but it’s all in the past now, we’re in 2022 and looking to make the best of this year,” he said.
“It’s challenging obviously being away from home, being by yourself. I had to do the rehabilitation in a different town, away from my teammates so it was a bit of a tricky one. It was one [challenge] that kept me on my toes and made me stronger in a way, not just physically but mentally as well.
The Rundu Chiefs product is keen to make up for lost time and reignite his career. But just like his mesmeric style of play, his next move is anyone’s guess.
“The injury that I had was quite severe, you can call it career-threatening. My contract ended end of November, so we’re in negotiations. I can’t really disclose anything right now,” said Shitembi.
Arguably one of the most naturally gifted footballers to emanate from our shores, Shitembi’s career never really took off. Instead his career became that of a journeyman, barely managing to see out a season wherever he has played.
Since making the jump from his boyhood club Rundu Chiefs in 2013 to the professional ranks in South Africa with the University of Pretoria, Shitembi has gone on to shine in Ghana and Zambia during brief loan spells in those countries. Playing in one of the big European leagues is not a priority at this stage of his career, he conceded.
“Realistically, at my age it’s not likely. I believe if something is meant to happen it will. Not being in the top leagues, obviously you sit back and think ‘I should have, I would have’. But it didn’t happen,” said Namibia’s most capped player.
Despite his well-documented successes at these clubs, he never found a home. He seems doomed to perennially struggle to settle. “I don’t regret anything that I’ve done in my path [so far]. All the downs I embrace with the ups. You grow from that.
“I think, I’m in a position in my life where I can say, I’ve done relatively well for myself and I’m happy with all the choices that I’ve made and how far football has taken me.”
Once he gets up to speed on the club scene, Shitembi hopes to return to the national fold. He believes he still has a lot to offer the Brave Warriors whom he skippered until his setback.
“You take pride in representing your nation. It’s been a dream to be in that position where I’ve been made captain, which is an honour for me. So, when I get that call, obviously I wouldn’t hesitate,” he said.
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