A hard worker, committed, disciplined. These were the characteristics that saw former Benfica and Chief Santos winger Jenoh ‘Ginola’ Gamseb become an integral part of the junior national teams at the peak of his football career.
Born and raised at the northern town of Tsumeb, Gamseb started making a name for himself while still at St Francis Primary School when he was called up to represent the Safe Ochurub-coached Otjikoto regional under-14 team in the Rossing Cup.
“We had quite a talented young team, no wonder we went all the way to clinch the cup after we defeated hosts Khomas 2-1 in the final. Former Chief Santos midfield ace Kennedy Subeb and Timotheus ‘Times’ Iipinge, who shone for Benfica, were my teammates,” Gamseb says.
“Khomas also fielded youngsters like former Civics midfield kingpin Salomo Hei and Floris Diergaardt who went on to become one of the most feared strikers and deadliest headers of the ball in the colours of both Khomasdal outfits Civics and Young Ones.”
The retired left-winger joined Benfica while he was playing for the Otjikoto Secondary School team under coach Lance Haauwanga.
“I was spotted by the Namibian under-19 team selectors while playing for Otjikoto and I was selected for the under-19 side that represented the country in both the Helsinki Cup in Finland and the Gothia Cup in Sweden in 1998,” Gamseb says.
“Veteran coach Gabriel Freyer, who was the coach of the under-19 side, promoted most of the players who were in the under-19 side to the under-20. We went to play in the Ball Games and the Under-20 Cosafa Cup that were both hosted by South Africa in 1999.”
Gamseb, who was comfortable playing at both left-back or left-wing, joined four-time NFA Cup winners Chief Santos shortly after his return from his European sojourn with the under-19 team.
“I have won multiple tournaments in the orange and green jersey (of Santos),” he says. “Santos was one of the teams to beat at the time. We had close to seven national team players on our team, which made the team strong and experienced.”
“Today I can brag that I was a holder of the NFA Cup in 1999, 2000 and again in the 2001/2002 season. Our success in the NFA Cup means they represented the country in the Africa Cup Winners Cup against Angolan giants Sagrada Esperanca, who knocked us out.”
Gamseb – known for his trickery and defence-splitting crosses from the wing – is also a winner of two league championships with the Copper Town Boys (Santos) – in 1993 and during the 2002-2003 seasons, respectively.
Gamseb played with some of the finest footballers in the country at Santos, which included the likes of Lucky Kakuva, Wallace Doeseb, Stephen Tjenao, Axaro Mukoya, George Hummel and Gerros ‘The Bomber’ Uri-khob.
“We had a very strong squad and the bulk of my teammates were members of the Brave Warriors squad. Everyone came with their qualities but I have never seen anyone so dedicated and committed like Gerros, he was a huge inspiration.
“I was also inspired by my uncle Harold Gamseb who was a talented and influential midfielder with Life Fighters and Liverpool in the Namibian Premier League during his heyday,” he says.
Gamseb says his proudest football moment was when the Namibian under-23 side held their more fancied South African counterparts to a draw in Windhoek.

Gamseb explains: “South Africa came with heavy artillery, they came guns blazing. They brought big-name players that were plying their trade in the professional Premier Soccer League and the stakes were very much against us at the Independence Stadium.”
“However, we were not known as the Young Warriors for nothing. We gave it our all that day and made our country very proud. South Africa were fielding stars like Matthew Booth, Thabo Mooki, Jerome McCarthy, Patrick Mbuthu, Stanton Fredericks and Junaid Hartley.”
The Namibian team, which was captained by the late Eliphas Heita, and fielded stars like Gerry Keister, Patrick M’kotwana and man of the match Nico ‘Double Clutch’ Nicodemus.
Unfortunately, despite the exceptional form he displayed for the junior national teams, he never received a call up to the senior national team.
“Why the national team selectors continuously overlooked me remains a puzzle. The under-23 side played friendlies against the Brave Warriors during which I also did well,” he notes.
“Despite the snub, and although I am a little disappointed, I’m not bitter at all because I agree that the players called up to the Brave Warriors squad were top class and they were far more experienced than myself. Nevertheless, I could have fancied one cap at least.”
Gamseb, who excelled in sprinting at school, is currently the father of four children and the head coach of Benfica in the Northern Second Division, a team he lifted from second last to fifth place last season.
“I am enjoying life as the coach of my boyhood team Benfica. I am just happy to plough back what I have learned and experienced as a premier league player with Santos and my involvement with the junior nationals teams,” the retired star says.
“I am receiving tremendous support from the team management and they are providing everything I need to the greater benefit of the team. The biggest challenge is the indiscipline and lack of commitment from some players. These are the diseases in the lower divisions.”
Although not qualified, Gamseb says he has applied for Caf C licence training.

Gamseb, who says he is happy with what he has achieved in football, points out that his biggest regrets are that he never played for the Brave Warriors and that he never played in one of the professional leagues abroad.
He admits he loved the travelling that came with playing football and he misses the adrenaline rush before matches as well as the cheering fans.
Gamseb, who is currently playing for the Tsumeb Masters together with his former teammates like Hafeni Shikomba, Kennedy Subeb, Nelson Geingob and Alfie Ndyenge, advises young players to refrain from alcohol and drug abuse and focus on education.
“Alcohol and drugs will only make you weak while education is the key to a brighter future. Football is a very short career,” Gamseb says.
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