In a sport where players are easily influenced by prestige and success, former midfielder Milla Gertze stands as one of the most loyal players Namibian football has seen.
Ever since he joined coastal outfit Explorer XI as a 14-year-old boy and broke into the first team at just 16, Gertze never looked elsewhere.
“Of course, there were teams who needed my services very badly. Anyone who saw me playing would have wanted me to play in their team,” the retired star says.
“However, Explorer XI was in my DNA. I virtually grew up in the team . . . and there was no way I would leave the club.”
Born and raised at Walvis Bay, Gertze never played football at Immanuel Ruiters Primary School and only played at Kuisebmond Secondary School.
“There was no football structure at primary school level during our time. We only played our little games in the streets, but competitively, it was only at the secondary level,” he says.
Gertze became an integral part of the age group teams that represented the western region in the regional tournaments in the early 1980s.
“I only got a big break in Explorer after my mentor and probably the biggest-ever star of the team, Johannes ‘Storm’ Gomkheiseb, decided to retire from the game,” he says.
“The elders of the team only started to have trust in me when I went to boarding school. They saw me playing for Cornelius Goreseb Secondary School and saw my readiness then.”
Gertze says Gomkheiseb was also the person with the biggest influence on his football career.
Gomkheiseb, who also represented Namibia before independence, mentored and taught Gertze the finer art of midfield play.
Gertze says he was fortunate enough to watch Gomkheiseb play before he took over playmaker responsibilities from him.
“I am proud to say that I carried Explorer on my tiny shoulders. I had an obligation to play for the club that offered me so much that I didn’t even contemplate leaving,” he says.
“Not that there weren’t any suitors. The so-called big clubs tried to lure me away, most notably Black Africa (BA). They didn’t come any bigger than the Lively Lions.”
Gertze says if he had any regret sports-wise it would be that he never joined BA, which was undoubtedly any ambitious young player’s dream destination back in the days.
He says he wants to be known as an intelligent player who is calm on the ball and a good game reader.
He describes 1990 as his best-ever year in an Explorer XI jersey.
“We played our best football, and we were even in pole position to lay claim on the Namibian Premier League title, but the league stopped because of the national elections,” he says.
“We also reached the final of the Novel Ford Cup that year at the expense of Tigers whom we beat in the semi-finals before crushing 3-1 to Orlando Pirates in the final,” he says.
Gertze developed a telepathic understanding with his two strikers, Alphons ‘Juluka’ Doëseb and the marauding Levy ‘Landen’ Festus, who benefited greatly from their playmaker’s creativity.
With the form he was in in 1990, it was not possible for the national team selectors not to recognise Gertze’s talent.
He was subsequently drafted into the youthful Namibian side that hosted Mauritius in an international friendly in Windhoek.
“I was thrilled by the recognition accorded to me by being called up among the cream of the country’s young players. It was a great honour for me,” he says.
The match, which was played at Independence Stadium, included Namibia’s first official goal, a 26th-minute strike by Frans ‘Foresta’ Nicodemus.
WORK, FAMILY
The former midfielder married his childhood sweetheart Franciska and the couple has two children.
Gertze is a cold store manager at a fishing company and says he has grown up in the job.
He says he is happy with his achievements.
“I must have really done something good on the football pitch, because I’m still recognised on the streets,” he says.
“My only regret is that we didn’t have a lot of opportunities like today’s players have. They can go ply their trade in professional leagues outside the country, unlike us in our days.”
Gertze says the league also has better financial backing nowadays.
He says his involvement with football now is limited to playing social football with the likes of his close friends Steven ‘Madigage’ Damaseb, Toy Romosa, George ‘Impi’ Hummel, and Rudolph Bester.
Gertze’s advice for today’s players are not to be blinded by the money they make.
“Don’t forget your duty as a player. The teams are working very hard to keep their players happy. Return the favour with loyalty.
“It’s really sad how the teams are investing in players, but the players are joking. They must not only play for money, but also with their hearts.”
