Cafu gets massive send-off

HUNDREDS of Windhoek-based mourners and sympathisers converged on the Macedonia Lutheran Church in Katutura to pay their last respects to possibly Namibia’s most respected referee, Matthew ‘Cafu’ Katjimune, on Wednesday evening.

The famous church, with a capacity of at least 800 people, was packed to the brim with about 1 000 inside, with an a further stream of close to 300 people in the doorway and the foyer.Some of the young men and women gave up their seats to the elders and camped outside the main entrance of the church. His father, Gersom Katjimune, spoke at the memorial service, which was also attended by Deputy Minister of Sport Pohamba Shifeta, his director, Vetumbuavi Veii, and Herero Chief Kuaima Riruako among many others. The younger ones outside the church chatted away as they remembered the former Fifa-accredited referee who was widely known for his calm and collected persona off the field, but a no-nonsense attitude towards players on the field.Katjimune passed away last week, a few weeks after he was involved in a car accident, and will be laid to rest at his homestead of Okaundja in the Okakarara district tomorrow.Katjimune was only 35 years old, but was a seasoned and accomplished referee who had travelled throughout the African continent on Fifa assignments.He handled regional football matches such as the Cosafa Cup, continental competitions such as the African Nations Cup and World Cup qualifiers in his career as one of the top referees this country has ever produced.He was popularly known as ‘Cafu’ largely due to his defensive abilities in his playing days and resembled Brazilian defender Cafu as a young footballer.Katjimune was rated among the top referees on the African continent and as one of the few on the Fifa panel.The Namibian Sport carries a tribute to Katjimune in today’s edition from one of his family members who will bring out the real man in black to the ones who only saw him on the field of play with the whistle. May his soul rest in peace. corry@namibian.com.na