Never lose focus – former midfield star Gurirab 

Chief Santos, Civics and Orlando Pirates midfield star Brian Gurirab is the only player from Karibib to have played for the Namibian national soccer team.

“The Erongo region was thriving back in the days when it was divided into two streams – Erongo and Welwitschia. Then the selection of regional junior football teams was done fairly and every player in the region went through fair trials.

“I am one of the fortunate sons of Karibib who benefited from that and went on to represent the Namibian Schools Sport Union’s under-19 national team during an extensive tour to Denmark, Germany, Norway and Sweden under coach Smithley ‘Chacklas’ Engelbrecht,” he says.

The Arandis-born midfielder, who was raised at Karibib, says: “I started playing football for the under-nine team of Ebenhaeser Primary School at Karibib at the age of eight before I was later promoted to the under-10 team. I then moved on to Usakos Secondary School where I drew the attention of the Baby Warriors selectors.

“I played on both wings in the attack and my speed as a former 100m and 200m athlete came in handy. I joined Chief Santos, who were one of the teams to beat in the premier league at the time, after we returned from our European sojourn, which was a wonderful life experience.”

Gurirab was soon promoted to the under-20 team and battled against countries like Angola, South Africa and Zambia with the Young Warriors under the watchful eyes of coach Brian ‘Robson’ Isaacs.

“I made sure I was one of the star performers for both the under-19 and under-20 teams, and it didn’t come as a surprise to me at all when I joined the under-23s. That’s when I started realising my full potential as a footballer with one eye set on the Brave Warriors,” he says.

But due to the injuries which have always hampered the retired midfielder, Gurirab’s appearance for the under-23 side was only restricted to a solitary appearance against their counterparts from Nigeria during an all-important Olympic Games qualifier in Windhoek.

The injuries could, however, not stop him from reaching his biggest sporting goal, which was to pull the coveted Brave Warriors jersey over his head.

It was a very wonderful honour to represent the country at the highest level, he says.

However, the injuries refused to go away.

“I was very competitive despite my being on the short side, and I really gave my all on the pitch. I was mostly deployed as a lock in the Brave Warriors because of my ability to defend and win back the ball from the opposition and thus act as a cover for the defence,” he says.

“Losing is one aspect of the game I hated the most and my teammates were well aware that we had to sweat blood for the nation. I may have been the shortest player in the team, but I was by far among the best defenders.”

In between injuries the midfield star started off with a few friendlies in the southern region with the Brave Warriors, before he tasted Cosafa Cup football against the likes of Angola and Botswana.

Then followed African Cup of Nations qualifiers home and away against formidable opposition like the Democratic Republic of Congo, Guinea and Zimbabwe.

Gurirab, who describes himself as strong and speedy during his heyday, was wrongly invited for trials by South African professional outfit Moroka Swallows.

“I am saying wrongfully, because Swallows were actually looking for a striker,” Gurirab says.

But South Africa’s loss was Angola’s gain as the feisty competitor was signed by Angolan Premier League coastal giants Estrela Clube Primeiro de Maio, who are based in Benguela.

During its golden years in the 1980s. The club won two Angolan leagues, three Angolan cups, and one Angolan super cup.

Gurirab returned to Namibia after a two-year spell with Primeiro de Maio but he had to spend a whole year nursing a swollen arm that was refusing to heal.

“I joined Civics who were the dominant force in Namibian football at the time and my three years spent at the Khomasdal outfit saw us lifting the Namibian Premier League trophy three times plus one Christmas Cup that we won against African Stars,” he says.

“My three leagues with Civics added up to the one league title, one Charity Cup and a third-place finish in the NFA Cup over Tigers in third and fourth place play-offs at Oshakati.”

Gurirab also played two CAF Champions League matches with Civics against Angolan champions Pedro de Luanda with the likes of Amos Shiyuka and Geoffrey Roman.

It was only a given that the former midfielder would play for Orlando Pirates towards the end of his football career.

The retired star mentions his late uncle Dennis Dauseb as the person with the biggest influence on his football career.

ADVICE

Gurirab has one son and is currently unemployed.

His advice to young footballers is to believe in their dreams and to never give up.

“I have tried several times myself before I got selected for the national team. I promised myself never to lose focus and to remain hopeful, because I believed in my God-given abilities,” he says.