Ex-Brave Gladiator aspires to be premier league coach 

Former Okahandja Beauties central defender and captain Uerikondjera Mamie Kasaona has come a long way to become the skipper of the Brave Gladiators.

“I was born and raised at a small settlement called Warmquelle, which is located 250km from Opuwo and 25km from Sesfontein in the Kunene region. Growing up was not easy, as I was the only girl in a family consisting of boys.

“But it is probably also good that I was the only girl, because they would always take me along to their football games to make up the numbers.

“That turned out to be a blessing in disguise for me, because it helped sharpen my ball control and shooting skills,” she says.

Kasaona’s football took a serious turn when she moved to Windhoek and started playing for the Okahandja Beauties women’s football club in 2007.

“I got exposed to better training and I was surrounded by a bunch of exceptional women players. It was inevitable that I would grow as a footballer. I was technically gifted, but I am a hard worker naturally,” she says.

Kasaona says she owes who she is today to football.

“I have played at the highest level, and I have coached at the highest level. I was the national under-20 team’s coach, and I was also a caretaker coach of the Brave Gladiators,” she says.

Kasaona was the captain of the Brave Gladiators when the team beat Botswana 5-2 in an intermational friendly at Sam Nujoma Stadium in 2014.

“Hard work always pays off. I always tried to make sure I got the basics right on the football pitch. I am a favourite of every coach I have played under, because I always made sure I carried out the instructions of the coach,” she says.

“I drew interest from outside the borders of Namibia, and it didn’t come as a surprise when I was signed by German clubs Germania Hauenhorst FC and Welhelmsfeld, which resulted in me spending three solid years playing football in Germany.”

Upon her return to Namibia from Germany in 2014 she started playing for Nampol FC, and after completing the 2015/16 season with the police outfit as well, the former Mureti Secondary School pupil decided to hang up her boots and started the Kasaona Football Academy (KFA), which participates in the Hopsol League.

The academy caters for boys and girls from under-9 to under-19.

“I can proudly say that KFA has produced a national team player in Bethuel Muzeu, who is currently playing for Black Leopards in the South African National First Division.

“Muzeu’s goals won the academy the inaugural Bank Windhoek Under-21 Tournament in 2022 . . . He is now a key member of the Brave Warriors.”

Kasaona says the historic moment when Namibia hosted the prestigious African Women’s Championships in Windhoek was a highlight of her career.

She was appointed interim coach of the Brave Gladiators two years ago, assisted by former Brave Warriors and Kaizer Chiefs gifted right wingback Robert ‘Baggio’ Nauseb.

Kasaona is also a proud holder of the Confederation of African Football C-level coaching licence, while she is currently enrolled for the B licence.

She is currently doing an internship at premier league giants Tigers FC under coach Marvin Mbakera.

Kasaona also played netball and became so good at it that she represented Namibia’s Desert Jewels in 2007.

Earlier in 2020 she coached the Young Gladiators during the Fifa Under-20 Women World Cup Qualifiers.

Apart from coaching her own academy teams, she is also the current coach of the Galz & Goals FC, a job she has been doing for the last five years.

PASSION FOR LANGUAGES, SPORT

Kasaona is a teacher by profession, and the product of the former Windhoek College of Education, which was incorporated in the University of Namibia in recent years.

“I am a language teacher for the Grade 7s at Bethold Himumuine Primary School at Katutura. I teach English and Otjiherero, and my major is human education, which is basically sport. I love teaching my pupils as much as I love coaching my future superstars,” she says.

“I am just happy to be able to make a difference in the young ones’ lives, whether through education or sport. I am just happy to represent my Himba people in this capacity.

“Hopefully I will inspire other people from my tribe to follow suit – that’s my dream.”

Kasaona’s advice to young players is to be disciplined.

“Be disciplined while you are exercising, and be disciplined while you are playing. Always listen attentively to your coach. Play according to their instructions, and you will become a better player,” she says.