Marco van Wyk did it all at the club level. As a midfielder-cum-striker, he won almost every competition Namibia had to offer during a golden stint with Black Africa.
But despite numerous call-ups, the former SKW FC player of the year hardly ever played a full match in the national colours.
“I made sure I was always among the fittest,” Van Wyk says.
“I put in a workman’s shift, whether upfront or in midfield. My consistency was always above average. Team owners circled me, but I stayed loyal to my beloved Black Africa (BA).”
A matriculant from David Bezuidenhout Secondary School, Van Wyk believes he earned every call-up on merit. He scored crucial goals and created countless chances for his strike partners, but timing and geography worked against him.
“It would’ve been unfair for a coach to fly players in from pro leagues abroad and bench them,” he says.
“I was up against serious competition. Ronald Ketjijere was at AmaTuks and Petrus Shitembi joined Amazulu – both in the South African Premiership.”
A proud resident of Veddersdal, Van Wyk was born and raised at Okahandja.
“My football journey commenced with the under-10 team of Maree Primary School. I was later promoted to the under-11 and under-13 teams,” he says.
“I later went to JG van der Wath Junior Secondary, where I finished my Grade 10. There was no football played there, but I got introduced to street football.”
Van Wyk, who would later win the most disciplined player award at Black Africa, played with bigger boys because he showed potential early.
He says when he went to David Bezuidenhout to complete his Grade 11 and Grade 12 years, he did not get a chance to play for the school team.
“The school already big team players like Civics’ fearsome winger, Victor Helu, and Riaan Cloete, who controlled Orlando Pirates midfield,” he says.
But football was not completely lost for Van Wyk because he continued to play Kasi to Kasi football, after which league club Spoilers came calling.
His time at Spoilers was short though after midfield maestro Congo Hindjou pursued him to join Liverpool.
“A team of Liverpool profile was just what I needed, because I was itching to get a feel of the Namibian Premier League, although the once mighty Okahandja only played four matches and got relegated,” Van Wyk says.
“I made my brief spell with Liverpool memorable by scoring a hat-trick in my second match against northern giants Benfica. It was a sad ending because even the two wins we registered that weekend meant nothing.”
He says SKW bought the status of Liverpool, and some of the players were asked to join the Olympia-based club.
Van Wyk’s five-star performances for SKW spread like wildfire, and soon Pirates boss Hendrick Davids and Eleven Arrows owner Johnny Doeseb came circling for his signature.
“I declined all their offers because my sights were set on the one and only Black Africa. I mean, which player could have turned down a lifetime opportunity to play for the country’s most successful team?” he asks.
“Joining BA was the best-ever sporting decision I ever made. I’m honoured to have been associated with success. BA has an unmatched pedigree of success. The players, technical staff, and management were all success driven.”
Van Wyk won four consecutive league championships with BA under chairman Ranga Haikali and several major cup competitions.
On the individual front, he ended up sharing the club’s top goalscorer of the season award with striking partners Bradley Asprilla Wermann and Jerome Louis.
“I didn’t rank among the club’s most skilful players – I was more of a hard worker. The entire team was super fit, and when you’re fit, you’ve won half the battle already. I just outworked most of my opponents,” he shares.
“My overall game was improving rapidly with a brilliant technical team of coaches who have also played football at the highest level.”
WORK, FAMILY
Van Wyk, who was a fierce competitor on the track where he featured very prominently in the 800m and 1 500m races, says he has developed a special love for long-distance races.
He married wife Yolandé in 2019, and the couple has one child.
The retired footballer, who is currently enjoying a quiet life at Okahandja, is employed as a branch administrator.
He says his father, Daantjie van Wyk, a former footballer with Youngsters FC, had the biggest influence on his football career.
Although Van Wyk remains actively involved in the game by playing in the over-40s social league, he says he has taken a break from coaching.
What he misses most from his days as a footballer, he says, is the build-up to the big games, especially the Katutura derby games against African Stars, Orlando Pirates, and Tigers.
“The supporters helped me get hyped up for the games by even coming to my work place to encourage me to do my level best on match day. It gives any player that special feeling that there is trust in you,” he says.
His advice to young players is to appreciate the opportunity to play, because a football career is short.
“You can be the star of your team today, but your career could be over tomorrow due to an injury,” Van Wyk says.
“Look up to players like Peter Shalulile, Deon Hotto, Henrico Botes, and Riaan !Hanamub, who had successful careers as professional players in South Africa.”
