A young footballer from the Tsumeb-based Chicco Football Academy, Frans Gawiseb’s morale received a boost after a good Samaritan donated a pair of soccer boots.
The good Samaritan, known as ‘Silver’, is an employee of the Ohorongo Cement factory. He says the gesture was in recognition of Gawiseb’s outstanding performance during preparation matches for the Swakop Gold Cup held over the weekend.
Gawiseb (12), who wears jersey number 15, is a play-maker currently captaining the under-13 team, while also competing in the under-15 and under-17 age groups.
Chicco Football Academy founder Abiator Karno says: “A heartfelt thank you to Mr Silver for your dedicated and personal support in uplifting the Namibian boy. Your act of kindness is truly appreciated and sets a powerful example for others to follow.”
The Chicco Youth Development Football Academy was established in 2018 with only 24 boys, aged nine to 16.
Karno says the academy was formed by the underprivileged and marginalised communities of the Soweto and Kuvukuland locations, school teachers and local retired footballers at Tsumeb.
“The academy progressed from there and registered in 2019 before the Covid-19 pandemic with inspiration of former regional councillor and ambassador Lebius Tobias’ ideas and encouragement.”
The idea of forming the Chicco Youth Football Academy came to fruition when former footballers Ockert Nomiseb and Karno convened at Soweto, Tsumeb, in August 2018.
“Today the Chicco Youth Development Football Academy accommodates more than 178 boys between the ages of nine and 24. The ages consist of under-10, -13, -15,and -17, and open senior teams as from 18 and up participating in the regional Oshikoto Third Division since 2023,” Karno says.
For the recently concluded 2024/25 football season, the academy ended second overall and now hopes to be involved in the promotional play-offs, where the second stream runners-up from divisions like Omuthiya and Tsumeb will compete for one spot later in August.
“There was a realisation to promote youth grassroots development from an early age for the town of Tsumeb and Namibia at large. As we face rising unemployment through these sporting activities we are able to keep these youthful kids off the streets.”
“We hereby contribute towards the fight against social evils, crime, alcohol and drugs abuse. In this way Chicco Youth Development Football Academy is able to contribute in its own albeit limited resources towards the government’s call.”
“Our vision is to work with our community to develop a wide range of opportunities which improve the quality of life and outlook for the youth, individuals, groups and neighbourhoods at Tsumeb and surrounding areas,” Karno stresses.
“As a charity and non-profitable organisation, we depend on donations to help us provide our activities and services and to assist our community in this way.”
“The way forward for the academy to get a big corporate sponsor on board for investment to fulfill our academy’s obligations by providing us with a mini bus and baggage trailer to minimise our expenses for travelling to youth development tournaments countrywide as well as for senior team league obligations and logistics.”
Karno says another objective is to include women’s football, under-15 and under-,17 once the academy receives sufficient funds.
“Our management will remain competent and competitive to foresee constant growth from strength to strength. The academy has also introduced an annual Chicco Youth Cup at Tsumeb since 2022 for grassroots under-13, -15 and -17, hosted during independence weekends.”
Karno says the Gold Cup is an annual youth development tournament hosted by Mondesa Football Academy at Swakopmund.
“All youth football academies flock to Swakopmund for the well-being and mental health of the youth, and for good networking among Namibian boys, allowing them to enjoy and stay active,” he said.
“We will send two age groups, under-15 and under-17, to participate but not to compete. Next year, we’ll be ready to compete. Now is for the ‘Chilli Boys’ – The Chicco Purple Project – to gain experience and recover by catching up on their skills in this cold weather.
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