Secrets of the Stars

With Peter Shalulile (Highlands Park)

Ten things you may not know about Highlands Park striker Peter Shalulile.

1 Peter Shalulile’s second name is Paanganga which means “Let’s Play” in his home language Oshiwambo – the most widely-used language in Namibia. 2 The Highlands Park forward was born in the village of Eengolo, Outapi, a town in northern Namibia located just 80 km from the border with Angola, but grew up in Windhoek after relocating just before he started primary school. 3 The 25-year-old is the last-born in a family of four children. He has three sisters, all of whom work for the government in Windhoek. 4 His father, who retired from his job as a government driver, now resides in Outapi where he is into cattle ranching while his mother is a manager at the airport. 5 The outspoken Namibian abandoned his studies in Grade 10 after realising his heart was in football. “To be honest with you, school was tough for me and luckily my mother understood. Studying was not for me,” he reveals. 6 He went to the same school – Jangonkere High – as fellow Highlands Park teammate Denzil Haoseb as well as Larry Horab, who has also previously played for the Lions of the North. All three have been capped for the Namibian national team. 7 So multi-lingual is the striker that he speaks English, Afrikaans, Oshiwambo, Otjiherero, Damara and Kavango. 8 Unknown to many is the fact that Shalulile started out as a left-back at a time when he had right knee issues, before being switched to right-back and then left-wing. Thereafter he played in central midfield and finally upfront, where he is now playing. 9 Shalulile, who is not active on social media, is particular about the jersey number he wears, which is why there always has to be a three in whatever number he uses. “I’m so proud that I come from Golgotha 13 [township] and that is why I wear 13 in the national team. Since that jersey number was already taken here at the club, I use 38 which also has a three,” he explains. 10 Shalulile is usually mocked for being old because of his tendency to always tuck in his shirt and roll up his shorts. “I always tuck in both, on and off the field, because I feel comfortable that way. The other thing is that I don’t have a fashion sense, which is why I wear anything I want,” he says.

An unfashionable Namibian who has to have the number three on his back … here’s ten things you may not know about Highlands Park striker Peter Shalulile.