REVERED Namibia Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) radio sports commentator Sagarias Karon died at the Rhino Park Private Hospital in Windhoek last Thursday. He was 56.
An NBC Damara/Nama Radio Service employee at the time of his death, Karon is believed to have died from a kidney-related illness, for which he was hospitalised about a week ago. He is survived by his wife and son.
An avid sports lover, who championed many a cause for the well-being of athletes, he began working for the NBC in 1995 as a freelancer before becoming a permanent staff member in 2009.
A captivating narrator who was renowned for adding humour to his commentary, Karon will be remembered as a strong character who was committed to his work and family, said NBC Damara/Nama radio manager Joseph !Garob.
“It is indeed very sad and shocking news,” !Garob told The Namibian Sport.
“I don’t know if it was a long-term illness, but he complained about a problem with his kidneys, for which he sought medical help last week.
We have lost a dedicated employee and influential member of the community. He was a father figure, and most of the commentators at the station owe a lot of what they know to him,” !Garob said of the man he referred to as a “gentle giant”.
Karon was adored by his peers, athletes and listeners for his enthusiasm and easy-going personality.
“Ou Karon and I worked together since 1996 when he joined the NBC as a freelancer. He could not read and write, but no one ever knew that. But his memory was as big as an elephant,” recalled Esegiel #Nuseb, an outside broadcast co-ordinator.
Andries Mouton of NBC’s Afrikaans Radio Service said: “Karon was passionate about sports, particularly, soccer. He welcomed me as an unseasoned soccer commentator with open arms, and got me passionate about the beautiful game as well. Karon was also very vociferous in his displeasure when the Brave Warriors were performing poorly, but could also be elated with brilliance.”
Daniel Tshwaro from NBC’s Setswana Radio looked up to Karon. The duo affectionately referred to one another as ‘Groot Name’, which is Afrikaans for ‘Big Names’.
“Karon was like a guardian and a colleague. Every time when we went out on a trip to do outside broadcasting or commentary on soccer matches, he would always tell me ‘Tshwaro you will be the driver for the trip, you guys are still young, we Big Names (Groot Name) are going to leave you with NBC because me and Maria Maria (colleague) are getting old’. Then he would laugh out loud,” said Tshwaro.
“Karon and I had a tradition of always doing commentary on The Namibian Newspaper Cup. I guess things will be different at this year’s Newspaper Cup. Karon, my friend, may your soul rest in peace. Now it make sense when you always told me that you will leave me with this company,” he added.
Veteran NBC Oshiwambo Radio Service commentator ‘Maria Maria’, real name Petrus Amutenya, had this to say about his fallen comrade:
“I worked with ou Karon for more than 15 years when he started as a freelancer at Damara/Nama radio. He could not read or write, but always knew all the names of the players during a soccer match. Ou Karon, as a freelancer, used to tell me how he would go and stand on top of a mountain on his farm to master the art of sport commentary. Whenever we were travelling around the country to cover soccer, he insisted we arrive there on time. His knowledge of sport was admirable.”
Tjizo Tjaveondja from NBC Otjiherero Radio Service also fondly remembers Karon as a human encyclopedia who has influenced his own commentary style.
“Ou Karon’s soccer commentary was of the highest standard. He knew all the rules of different sports codes. During his soccer commentary, he would always compare the current generation of soccer players to yester-years’ stars. He always loved to take his son to soccer matches where he would do commentary! And he spoke five languages: Damara/Nama, Otjiherero, Afrikaans, Oshiwambo and English! I will miss him dearly,” Tjaveondja said.
