Orlando Pirates striker Nicky Musambani has taken the Namibia Premier League by storm this season with his clinical finishing and goal scoring prowess and after Round 22 of the NPL he was well ahead in the goal scorer’s race with 14 goals to his credit.
His form has not gone unnoticed and this week he was called up by national coach Ricardo Mannetti to play in a Brave Warriors trial match in Tsumeb.
Remarkably the 25-year-old started life out as a defender at school and it was only later, when he joined Orlando Pirates that he was converted into a striker. But he adapted quickly and soon distinguished himself as a top marksman in the NPL.
Musambani was born and bred in Omaruru and played soccer from a young age, first for Ubasen Primary School and then for S I Gobs Senior Secondary School. At S I Gobs he made the first team by Grade 8 and in 2005 and 2006 was a key member of the team that won the Arandis Cup for two years in a row.
His soccer career blossomed and in his matric year he was invited for trials with Tigers but he was not successful. The following year however he joined Southern Stream First Division side Monitronix where he once again caught the eye, this time of Rusten Mogane who was then coaching Orlando Pirates.
Mogane invited Nicky for trials and this time he made the grade, and he was signed up by Pirates for the 2011/12 season.
By that stage Nicky was playing as a midfielder, but Mogane converted him into a striker and he soon made the grade.
“When I joined Pirates they had a lot of midfielders but not many strikers so Rusten asked me to play as a striker. There were a lot of new skills that I had to learn but I enjoyed the challenge and soon started scoring goals,” he said.
Since then, in fact, Nicky has turned into a top marksman and became Pirates’ top goalscorer for the following three seasons and this season he is a strong contender to win the Goalscorer of the Season award.
“The fact that I’m the leading goalscorer motivates me a lot and I hope to win the top goalscorer award this season. If I’m called up to the Brave Warriors it will be a dream come true but I’m staying focussed and taking it one game at a time,” he said.
One on One with Nicky Musambani
Birthdate:
2 June 1989.
Birthplace:
Omaruru, Namibia.
Where did you go to school?
Ubasen Primary School and S I Gobs Senior Secondary School.
Top achievements in soccer:
Winning the Arandis Cup with SI Gobs in 2005 and 2006.
Who inspired you as a soccer player?
Former Brave Warriors captain and Orlando Pirates assistant coach Michael Pienaar. I looked up to him and he encouraged and motivated me a lot.
What Namibian team did you support?
African Stars.
Which Namibian player do you like?
Quinton Jacobs.
International team?
International player?
Didier Drogba.
What do you like to eat and drink?
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