Hummel prepares Arrows for new season 

Former Brave Warriors defender George Hummel is currently hard at work as a coach, preparing Eleven Arrows for the upcoming Namibia Football Premier League.

During his playing career, Hummel went on to become one of Namibia’s most reliable defenders, winning 42 caps for the Brave Warriors from 1994 to 2009, while he also played professionally abroad, representing Moroka Swallows and Hellenic in South Africa, as well as FC Luchy Vladivostok in Russia.

He later returned to Namibia to play for Eleven Arrows, winning the NFA Cup with them in 2011, and two years ago once again reunited with Arrows, this time as their coach. Under his guidance they finished second on the Southern Stream First Division log, but were eventually promoted to the premier league after buying the status of the SSFD winners Blue Birds.

Hummel spoke to The Namibian Sport about their preparations for the upcoming season.

When did you start coaching Arrows and how did it go?

Arrows’ management approached me to take over as coach about two years ago after Paulus Shipanga left.

I joined them in pre-season and then guided them throughout the league campaign when we had a very successful season.

We finished one point behind Blue Birds, we only lost two matches all season and also conceded the least goals.

How did you get promoted?

Blue Birds is a feeder team to Premier League team Blue Waters, so they couldn’t get promoted.

So then the clubs negotiated and they asked Arrows to buy their premier league status, rather than stopping football because it was threatening to go to court.

So Blue Birds sold their status to Eleven Arrows and that’s how we got promoted.

What does it mean to you, having been a former player and now the coach of Eleven Arrows?

It’s quite exciting and I’m proud of what Arrows have achieved. The development that has taken place over the past two years I’ve been with them gives me a sense of pride, but I’m also looking forward to the challenge ahead.

How do you feel about the upcoming premier league?

We started our pre-season training almost a month and a half ago, but then we had to stop due to the uncertainty of the start of the league. It’s the same thing almost every year in Namibian football, and to be honest, we haven’t had much preparation time, because we only resumed last week.

Most of the players went home after we stopped, so it’s been a bit of a stop-start pre-season so far.

But I believe in the players we have, and for the first season I think our aim will be just to try and stabilise Arrows as a club.

I don’t think we have the capacity to compete for any titles, so we just want to make sure we stay in the league, and from there we can build on that.

Do you think you have any players with the potential to play for the Brave Warriors?

There are a couple of players, especially my defensive players, the selectors can look at. Our captain, Luciano Fischer, who plays in midfield, is also a very talented player. He’s 27, so he could be a bit old for the national team, but I believe there are a few players who will catch the eye.

How do you find the change from being an Arrows player to being their coach?

It’s just about ploughing back the experience I have gained. I was also captain of the national team, so the discipline, the hard work and the preparation it takes I plough back into Eleven Arrows. I must say I enjoy it and it’s quite exciting.

What message do you have for the Arrows’ supporters?

Firstly, we need to thank them for their support and for sticking with the team while we were playing in the first division. That support will be vital now, because the Premier League is not an easy league.

So now they must double their efforts and come in numbers so we can make Kuisebmond Stadium a difficult place for teams to go.

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