AFRICAN Stars on Monday fired head coach Robert Nauseb with the same ruthlessness Black Africa dished out against them during their highly charged Katutura derby on Sunday.
The 5-1 demolition to log leaders BA, albeit with one man down for 45 minutes, did not sit well with the club’s hierarchy, who duly fired the novice coach and turned to last season’s league and cup double-winning mentor Bobby Samaria for the rest of the season.
Sunday’s result was the second domestic defeat for the inconsistent MTC Namibia Premiership holders who have won as many matches, with the fifth match being a draw.
Guiding Stars to the second round in the Caf Champions League with a 2-1 aggregate victory over Volcano de Moroni of the Comoros last week to set up a mouth-watering tie against South African super club Orlando Pirates this Saturday was not deemed sufficient to keep Nauseb in his first top coaching job.
“Yes, I can confirm that the coach [Robert Nauseb] has been relieved of his duties,” the club’s executive director, Salomo Hei, told The Namibian Sport yesterday.
A technical report assessing Nauseb’s performance thus far found that the team was “not playing to standard”, he added.
“Sunday’s result definitely contributed to the decision. African Stars have not lost to a rival by this margin in a very long time. The report also showed that performances have not been satisfactory. We [board] take decisions in the best interest of the team, and this is in our view such a decision.”
Nauseb, whose only notable coaching experience was being an assistant for two seasons at FC Cape Town in the South African national first division, “was not necessarily a gamble for African Stars”, but the results were not deemed in keeping “with the biggest football brand in the country.”
Earlier this year, the 44-year-old coached at Sacred Heart High School in Observatory, Johannesburg and also at Euro Soccer, a football school based in Edenvale, Gauteng, where he worked with toddlers and teens.
Nauseb often cut a frustrated figure on the touchline, vexed by what he said was his team’s inability to carry out instructions.
A busy calendar did little to help his bedding-in, with his players looking off the pace in most matches as they struggled to adapt to juggling continental football and domestic matches over a short period of time.
In contrast, the returning Samaria boasts a wealth of coaching experience and honours, the majority of which he won with Stars over the past decade, to back up his impressive resumé.
His immediate task though is as daunting as they come; reinvigorating his underperforming charges for two mammoth matches against a Pirates side with a proven pedigree on the continent.
Following last season’s NPL and Debmarine Namibia Cup titles success, Samaria and the club parted ways as he was unavailable on a full-time basis due to his primary occupation.
Hei said the club and Samaria were still ironing out an amicable modus operandi.
“The games against Pirates are big ones. We know Bobby, and believe that he has the necessary ability to make sure we are competitive over the two legs,” Hei said.
To that end, the club will organise transport by coach and accommodation for supporters who wish to back the team in Soweto, Johannesburg on Saturday.
“We urge our supporters to come out in numbers to support the team at home and away. We are busy making travel arrangements for those who can make it to South Africa.
The earlier they can get in touch with us, the better to ensure we cover logistics thoroughly,” said Hei.
Bookings should be directed to team manager Lesley Kozonguizi at 0811242755.
