OKAHANDJA has waited 15 long years for the return of top-flight football to its doorstep, and now that the Garden Town has a team in the country’s foremost football competition, they intend to be part of the elite setting indefinitely.
There’s probably no one more thrilled about the town once again hosting Namibia Premier League clashes than mayor Johannes ‘Congo’ Hindjou – arguably the finest footballer to come from Okahandja.
Hindjou spearheaded negotiations to acquire Military School Okahandja’s status upon learning that the club would be barred from the NPL, who already had a Namibia Defence Force team on their roster.
On Thursday, the Namibia Football Association announced that it had approved the change in ownership and name of Military School Okahandja to community club Okahandja United.
“We could not allow a team from Okahandja which worked so hard to win the [north-west] first division to give its status away to someone else,” Hindjou told reporters in Windhoek on Thursday.
“The first person who needed to stand up was me as the first citizen of the town, and that’s what I did. I grabbed this opportunity for Okahandja,” he added.
Liverpool Okahandja were the last NPL representatives from the Garden Town. The club won the NFA Cup in 1992 and the league in 2001–2002, before a tumultuous campaign the following season saw them relegated, and eventually disbanded soon afterwards.
Former Brave Warriors star midfielder Hindjou said the town was abuzz with anticipation for the new season, which, with the promotional dispute finally resolved, may kick off later next month.
“I can assure you that the support we have from the people of Okahandja is there. It’s over 13 years since we last had Premier League football,” he said.
The hunt for an experienced head coach and reinforcements is afoot, Hindjou said.
“We will have a committee that will run the team. Okahandja has capable people; people who played football, and business people. We will sit down as people of Okahandja, and then decide on the best way forward,” he enthused.
“The team has 22 players at the moment. We’ll have to get a coach. Coaches have been calling me non-stop. We need to appoint someone with knowledge of the game,” continued Hindjou, who quipped that if need be, he’d coach the team, given his coaching qualifications.
“Okahandja United does not want to be another yo-yo team. We want to remain in the Premier League for many seasons. This is why we need to acquire a coach and players who have been tested in the Premier League.”
Hindjou is particularly upbeat about the return of top-flight football to his hometown as the benefits extend beyond the field of play.
“As mayor, I understand the need to create recreation for our people, and football is recreation. And not only recreation, but the local economy will be uplifted by premier league football coming back to Okahandja,” he said of the projected positive spin-offs.
“We’re not only talking about a football match between Okahandja United and Civics. The business community will greatly benefit from the money that Civics and other teams will bring to the town through several services.”
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