Ryan Nyambe – back to his roots

RYAN Nyambe recently made his home debut for Namibia in their 2-1 victory against Chad in Windhoek on 13 November.

The 21-year-old defender, who plays for Blackburn Rovers in the English Championship – the second tier of English football, had been a target of former national coach Ricardo Mannetti for a long time, but only decided to represent his country of birth earlier this year ahead of the African Cup of Nations finals in Morocco.

Before that he had still been hoping to represent England at junior level, but Mannetti’s persistence paid off as Nyambe eventually decided to represent Namibia.

“Obviously I was hoping to play for England, but in the end it was an easy choice, because I want to play international football for my country. I wouldn’t say I gave up on my hopes of playing for England, I’d rather say I weighed up my options and decided to play for Namibia,” he said, when interviewed a day after their Chad victory.

At Afcon he played an integral role in Namibia’s campaign, appearing in all their matches against Morocco, South Africa and Ivory Coast, and although Namibia failed to win a match it was a good experience for Nyambe.

“Afcon was enjoyable, but the downside was not getting the results we wanted. But it was a good experience, the team was very welcoming, and they are a nice bunch of lads.

“There’s a lot of talent and a good spirit in the team, but we just have to work on our attacking game,” he added.

Nyambe’s decision is certainly good news for the Brave Warriors as he brings a lot of stability and experience to the defence, while his versatility is also a bonus. Against Chad he started in central defence, but was later moved to right back, where he normally plays for Blackburn Rovers, and did a good job in keeping Chad’s attackers down the left flank at bay.

Nyambe was an instant hit with the local fans as many lined up to have photos taken with him after the match, and his ‘homecoming’ certainly made a lasting impression.

“I enjoyed every single minute of it, it was a proud moment for me playing on home soil and I’m glad we got the win as well,” he said.

Although he is still only 21 years old, Nyambe has gained a lot of experience in England, where he has played for Blackburn for the past five years.

Born in Katima Mulilo on 4 December 1997, he grew up with family members in the north eastern town as well as in the capital Windhoek, after his mother left for England to pursue a nursing career.

Nyambe can’t remember much about his early schooling, except that he wore a ‘green uniform’ in Windhoek, but at the age of nine he joined his mother in Manchester, England.

“I was just a kid, so it was quite easy to adapt. Obviously the weather was different, it’s cold, and it’s a different lifestyle, but it was a good thing that I was young, because I adapted quicker,” he said.

He started playing soccer at school and for a local club team and by the age of 13 his talents were spotted by a scout from Blackburn Rovers and he joined their academy.

“I was just a kid enjoying my football and then Blackburn came in when I was 13. I signed my first contract when I was 17 and I also made my debut that same year. It was a big moment in my life, I felt privileged and I was very proud of myself,” he said.

Since then Nyambe has worked his way up and become a regular member of Blackburn Rovers and to date has played more than 80 matches for them.

“I’d say my highlight came about two years ago when we were promoted from League One to the Championship, but I’ve also played against some top players like Naby Keita, Alex Iwobi and Jordan Ibe. The pace is much quicker in England, so you must be quick and keep learning the whole time,” he said.

Nyambe has certainly been a hard worker and says that is the best advice he can give to Namibian youngsters who would like to follow in his footsteps.

“Just remain focussed. There’s nothing that can beat hard work, so if you work hard at whatever you do, you will be successful,” he said.

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