Namibian footballers flock to SA

FIVE Namibians will turn out for South African-based side Black Leopards in the next season after all of them secured two-year renewable contracts ahead of the Premier Soccer League (PSL), which starts later this month.

Four players and a goalkeeper coach have landed contracts with the team. Former Blue Waters goalkeeper Athiel Mbaha was the last to sign the deal with the PSL side.Striker Costa Khaiseb, defender Hartman Toromba and goalkeeper Ephraim Tjihonge have also signed with the club, which also had Congo Hindjou and Quinton Jacobs as players in the past.Khaiseb, who played briefly for Civics after his stint in the German lower division last season, was together with Toromba, the first to join the team.Tjihonge, who is a former goalkeeper with Black Africa and Mbaha, will be fighting for a place between the sticks this season.A former player at Eleven Arrows, Blue Waters and recently the goalkeeper coach at Civics, Sparks Gotlieb, has been give the role of working with goalkeepers at Black Leopards as well.He made known that he wants to be the best in that country when it comes to coaching goalkeepers.Another Namibian, Paulus Shipanga, has also secured a two-year contract with City Pillars, a side in the Mvela Golden League (equivalent to first division) and has joined former Civics and Tigers coach Ali Akan, who was appointed to take charge of the team for the new season.Shipanga moved from Bidvest Wits, which has now been promoted to the PSL and will also play along another Namibian, Patrick M’kotwana, who played for Ramblers.Former Blue Waters goalkeeper Athiel Mbaha was the last to sign the deal with the PSL side.Striker Costa Khaiseb, defender Hartman Toromba and goalkeeper Ephraim Tjihonge have also signed with the club, which also had Congo Hindjou and Quinton Jacobs as players in the past.Khaiseb, who played briefly for Civics after his stint in the German lower division last season, was together with Toromba, the first to join the team. Tjihonge, who is a former goalkeeper with Black Africa and Mbaha, will be fighting for a place between the sticks this season.A former player at Eleven Arrows, Blue Waters and recently the goalkeeper coach at Civics, Sparks Gotlieb, has been give the role of working with goalkeepers at Black Leopards as well.He made known that he wants to be the best in that country when it comes to coaching goalkeepers.Another Namibian, Paulus Shipanga, has also secured a two-year contract with City Pillars, a side in the Mvela Golden League (equivalent to first division) and has joined former Civics and Tigers coach Ali Akan, who was appointed to take charge of the team for the new season. Shipanga moved from Bidvest Wits, which has now been promoted to the PSL and will also play along another Namibian, Patrick M’kotwana, who played for Ramblers.