Scharnowski recovering

CIVICS’ president and coach, Helmuth ‘Chef’ Scharnowski, is recovering after a successful heart-bypass operation in Germany and has expressed confidence that they can win the MTC Namibia Premier League title for the third year in a row.

Scharnowski had to suddenly leave for Kiel, Germany, in March to undergo the operation after suffering a mild heart attack. Due to the sudden departure, Scharnowski did not have time to inform the players about his condition, which led to uncertainty about the club’s future.When contacted by Namibia Sport today, Scharnowski said the operation was a success, but he still had to undergo a rehabilitation process and would only return to Namibia in June.”I had a serious heart problem.They had to cut open my chest to operate on me and I need time now to recover.My chest needs to grow back together again and I am busy undergoing a rehabilitation programme.It will take time to heal and I only expect to be back in Namibia some time in June,” he said.Scharnowski expressed delight that the team had collected maximum points against Cymot SKW and African Stars last weekend and said that the league title was now well within their grasp.”I am very proud of our players.If we win this weekend’s matches against Arrows and Blue Waters, then the title should be ours again.I am very happy to see that they can take responsibility when I am not there.It shows that the team is growing up and we are creating something that can still go very far,” he said.Scharnowski said he had been in contact with assistant coach George de Purificao to encourage his players and to discuss tactics before last weekend’s matches.STRONG DEVELOPMENT STRUCTURES Although the league is not over yet, it seems almost certain that Civics will win the title for the third year in a row.”That will be a great achievement for us, because no other team has done that yet.It shows what can be achieved through hard work and our philosophy of developing youth soccer.We will continue with our youth development programme and I am really excited about the talent that is coming through,” he said.He said Civics had a lot of “rough diamonds” within its youth development teams, with at least ten players already representing Namibia at under-16 and under-18 level.”I am excited about the future.From our youth development structures we will build another great team, which should already start taking shape within the next two to three years,” he said.Scharnowski called on the NFA to invest more funds and time into the development of youth football.”Youth development belongs to the clubs, but the NFA must support it financially.It’s a costly exercise and everyone must get involved up to the parents, but there is money available from FIFA and the Namibia Football Consortium.”The NFA must put a programme in place, but I cannot see a programme,” he said.www.namibiasport.com.naDue to the sudden departure, Scharnowski did not have time to inform the players about his condition, which led to uncertainty about the club’s future.When contacted by Namibia Sport today, Scharnowski said the operation was a success, but he still had to undergo a rehabilitation process and would only return to Namibia in June.”I had a serious heart problem.They had to cut open my chest to operate on me and I need time now to recover.My chest needs to grow back together again and I am busy undergoing a rehabilitation programme.It will take time to heal and I only expect to be back in Namibia some time in June,” he said.Scharnowski expressed delight that the team had collected maximum points against Cymot SKW and African Stars last weekend and said that the league title was now well within their grasp.”I am very proud of our players.If we win this weekend’s matches against Arrows and Blue Waters, then the title should be ours again.I am very happy to see that they can take responsibility when I am not there.It shows that the team is growing up and we are creating something that can still go very far,” he said.Scharnowski said he had been in contact with assistant coach George de Purificao to encourage his players and to discuss tactics before last weekend’s matches.STRONG DEVELOPMENT STRUCTURES Although the league is not over yet, it seems almost certain that Civics will win the title for the third year in a row.”That will be a great achievement for us, because no other team has done that yet.It shows what can be achieved through hard work and our philosophy of developing youth soccer.We will continue with our youth development programme and I am really excited about the talent that is coming through,” he said.He said Civics had a lot of “rough diamonds” within its youth development teams, with at least ten players already representing Namibia at under-16 and under-18 level.”I am excited about the future.From our youth development structures we will build another great team, which should already start taking shape within the next two to three years,” he said.Scharnowski called on the NFA to invest more funds and time into the development of youth football.”Youth development belongs to the clubs, but the NFA must support it financially.It’s a costly exercise and everyone must get involved up to the parents, but there is money available from FIFA and the Namibia Football Consortium.”The NFA must put a programme in place, but I cannot see a programme,” he said.www.namibiasport.com.na