Chairman Charles protected me - Muwanei

...clubless player looks back on first mentor

Nearly a forgotten man after spending much of this season without a club, Namibian striker Mapenzi Muwanei is plotting a comeback that will rejuvenate his career.

In a recent interview with The PlayMaker, the player also looked back on the great role played by the chairman of his first club.

The player effectively broke into the national limelight at the 2012 edition of The Namibian Newspaper Cup, which was held in Keetmanshoop. His goalscoring heroics led to him winning the top scorer award, as well as being crowned the player of the tournament as he helped Erongo claim their maiden win in that tournament.

As is customary, Muwanei was hot property thereafter, and many agents and teams approached him.

Speaking of that moment, the player describes The Namibian Newspaper Cup as “humble beginnings”.

“Agents came running and clubs were after me,” Muwanei said of the period after winning The Newspaper Cup. "Luckily, I was under a second division club in Walvis Bay’s Sailors Football Club, which belongs to Charles Muukua."

“I actually had to play for the Zambezi Region during that tournament because I never thought I would make the Erongo team. I was in school at that time at a hostel in Usakos, but last-minute, I was called to join the Erongo team.”

The call came after the player scored a brace while playing against Eleven Arrows, who were coached by Nicholas ‘Woody’ Jacobs at the time.

“[Coach Woody] said to me: I want you here when you come back.”

Muwanei would later return to Arrows following his heroics in Keetmanshoop.

That may never have happened if it was not for Charles Muukua, the Sailors FC club boss, who is popularly known as ‘Chairman Charles’.

“Agents came running and clubs were after me,” Muwanei said of the period after winning The Newspaper Cup.

“Luckily, I was under a second division club in Walvis Bay’s Sailors Football Club, which belongs to Charles Muukua. He doesn’t let go of his players just like that. He protected me, took care of me and advised me. [Chairman Charles] later sent me to Eleven Arrows; a club which became my home until today,” Muwanei explained.

Since those Eleven Arrows days, the striker went on to win the league with Tigers in his first season at the club.

“To help Tigers win the league, that was another good moment in my life. I also ended as the club’s top goalscorer,” he reflected.

Last season, Muwanei made a move to Zambia where he joined Kansanshi Dynamos, who were campaigning in that country’s first division.

The team eventually gained promotion and now play in the Zambian Super League.

Towards the end of last season, Muwanei no longer played for the Kansanshi-based team, and he was later released by the club.

“The process of registration and work permit took long, and it delayed the start of my playing. When I started playing, I only played one game under the coach who signed me, who is former Chipolopolo coach Beston Chambeshi, because he left and joined another club just after my debut.

“I left the club due to misunderstandings with the club staff, but we came to an agreement and parted ways on good terms,” Muwanei, who is still in Zambia, stated.

He vowed that since the current season has less than eight games left, next season will mark his return to regular action.

“You will see me playing… I was actually supposed to be playing, but I rejected some offers because I wanted to prepare myself mentally and physically. You don’t just jump from a breakup into a new relationship…” Muwanei is reportedly training with a club, which he refuses to name, as well as doing work by himself.

“I am also training on my own. That’s why I am in Zambia so early; to keep myself fit.”

“You will see me playing… I was actually supposed to be playing, but I rejected some offers because I wanted to prepare myself mentally and physically. You don’t just jump from a break-up into a new relationship…”