I came across this photo of the Tigers soccer team from the late ‘40s/early ‘50s in the archives in Windhoek. Taken in the Old Location against the backdrop of the Auas Mountains, it was one of the first colour photos of the team. I was fascinated.
The soccer players are wearing a varied collection of headgear, including red berets. Some of the shirts are homemade and a few players are wearing belts, something unheard of today with elasticised shorts. Take a look at the old-fashioned boots, the one player’s makeshift shin pad and the goal post that looks like it’s seen a lot of action. The team is flanked by three very well-dressed men, wearing suits and hats, presumably the owner, coach and manager.
I found some interesting detail in the book by Carlos Kambaekua ‘The untold history of Namibian football’, soon to be launched. The Tigers Football Club was established in 1927. It comprised mainly Oshiwambo-speaking players, following the trend of the time to create teams of the same language groups. At one time, they wanted to call themselves ‘Ramblers’, but were refused by the authorities as the name was already taken, so they called themselves ‘Rickets’, later changing the name back to ‘Tigers’.
Kambaekua tells of how soccer came to Namibia in 1910 and although initially played separately by blacks and whites, played a major role in unifying people from all races.
Seventy years later soccer continues to unify people and delight soccer fans like myself across the globe.
(Send us a team photo of you and your fellow soccer players in the Comments section below and stand the chance to win two nights for two people at one of Gondwana’s premier lodges – terms & conditions apply).