Former attacking midfielder now into car dealer business

The football career of former Civics and African Stars midfield kingpin Bradley ‘Asprilla’ Wermann was one of absolute determination and perseverance.

After he failed to make the grade at high-flying Civics, which he joined from a non-league team Diamond United in 2001, the attacking midfielder moved to Ramblers the following season where his form improved drastically.

“It all started at AI Steenkamp Primary School in Katutura where we dominated the other primary schools in Katutura and Khomasdal. We won every competition we participated in, but Mandume primary was a force to be reckoned with,” says Wermann.

“I joined the late Lucky ‘Bazooka’ Richter’s coaching clinic with my childhood friend Riaan Cloete. I moved on to the Pioneers Boy’s School, but we didn’t play any sport there. So, I soon joined my location team and played against the other sections of Katutura.”

He says he trained with the likes of Heini Isaacs, Rudi Louw and Cloete at Richter’s coaching clinic before he later joined the Woody Jacobs-coached Diamond United in Khomasdal, where he honed his football skills alongside Ellington Tjirimuje.

He then moved to Civics where he struggled for game time before joining Orlando Pirates only to find himself on the bench again. However, he was lucky to play for junior national teams (from under-17 through to the u23 level) before he joined Ramblers.

“I played against Lesotho under coach David ‘Big Fellah’ Snewe during which we were hammered 3-0 in the home leg during an African Youth Nations Cup qualifier at the Independence Stadium after drawing 0-0 away in Lesotho in the first leg,” he says.

Wermann was sent off for elbowing an opponent during the encounter.

The free-scoring midfielder was also in the u23 team that engaged South Africa in a preliminary round of the African Olympic qualifiers that saw a star-studded South Africa prevailing 2-1 on aggregate over two legs.

“We prepared very well. We even participated in a four-nations tournament in Angola. South Africa fielded top players like Itumelang Khune and Lerato Chabangu. They beat us 1-0 at Potchefstroom, but we held them to a 1-all draw in Windhoek,” he notes.

The skilful star had a very successful stint with Black Africa, under Ranga Haikali, which saw him win two Namibian Premier League (NPL) titles.

Wermann was signed by coach Ricardo ‘Bucksy’ Mannetti in 2010, alongside his childhood friend Rudi Louw, in what turned out to be his best season in the premier league after he was named player of the season and players’ player of the season by both his club and NPL.

“My two seasons with Black Africa earned me two league titles. I’m particularly proud because my winning goal against title-chasing Pirates handed BA a 2-1 win and the league title during our final Katutura derby clash of the season,” he says.

“But BA cited financial issues when I approached them to extend my stay with them after my two-year contract ended. I then joined African Stars, who approached Oscar Mengo because they were prepared to meet my demands.”

Wermann added another league title, two Bidvest cups and the Standard Bank Super Cup to his medal haul while he was also twice league runners-up with Stars.

However, his five-year stay with Stars ended in 2017 after the Samba Boys’ appointed coach Bobby ‘General’ Samaria, who decided to refresh his squad with young players and letting go the likes of Freedom Puriza, Riaan Cloete, Jamunovandu Ngatjizeko and Wermann.

He reunited with coach Woody Jacobs at Tigers for the 2017-18 season, but the move did not deliver any silverware because Tigers were not on top of their game that season.

The retired star had a failed trial at SuperSport United in the South African Premier League, which he describes as a joke because there were over 50 players on trial and the coaches didn’t really give anyone a proper chance to prove themselves.

Wermann also had his time with the senior national football team.

“I made my debut for the Brave Warriors against Mozambique and I took it from there. I have also played against Botswana, Burundi and Burkina Faso and featured very prominently during the qualifying stages of the African Nations Championships in 2016,” he says.

Apart from his football prowess, the former African Stars star was also very comfortable on the hockey field and was called up to the national trials during his primary school years – but football prevailed. He also played against maestro Siyabonga Martins.

The former midfielder is not married yet although he is in a steady relationship and two children.

Wermann is a self-employed car trader.

“I have to put bread on the table for my children and my family, especially my mom. As things stand, I’m on the look out for bargain cars on the market, fix them and resell them for a little profit,” he says.

“I also buy taxis, look for a driver and go into contract with him to buy the car from me by paying off the set price in instalments.”

The former Brave Warriors striker says he is finalising paperwork to register a financial service providing company, and will only reveal the services he is going to offer once everything is finalised.

He admits his business is not running smoothly all the time, but believes things could have been better if he had taken his education seriously instead of being blinded by the glitz and glamour of a football superstar.

He says although he is satisfied with what he achieved during his football career, he also regrets that he spent his entire playing career in Namibia and did not work hard enough to attract scouts from Europe or South Africa to secure a better future.

The former free-scoring midfielder advises young players to be serious with their careers and strive to leave the country to play professional football if they have the talent and not be content with being stars in the local league.

“The ultimate goal must be to make as much money as possible to secure a comfortable life after their playing days. Namibian football is not rewarding at all,” he says.

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