Former Black Africa and nationwide soccer group defender Gerry Keister is a dwelling proof that arduous work and self-discipline pays off.

Growing up in his grandmother’s residence at Otjiwarongo, within the Otjozondjupa area, the retired proper again went on to signify Namibia in any respect junior ranges earlier than he ultimately received the massive break to placed on a Brave Warriors jersey.

“I started playing organised football at the age of eight when I turned out for the under-10 team at the former Herero Primary School, now known as Orwetoveni Primary School in Otjiwarongo. Like all the young boys of my age we first started playing in the streets,” says Keister.

“Those were very hard days because we didn’t even have football boots for a starter. However, driven by my will to succeed and my dedication to football I was spotted by the national team selectors, first by the under-17 team and later by the under-19 team.”

Then nonetheless a speedy winger, Keister was a member of National Schools Sport Union (NSSU) under-19 group that went to signify the nation on the Zone Six Ball Games in South Africa.

He absolutely should have completed one thing proper throughout that match at Esselen Park exterior Johannesburg as a result of he was later known as as much as the under-20 aspect and later within the under-23 group that went to interact their counterparts from the southern African area within the Zone Six Championships hosted by Lesotho as effectively.

“I could not believe my ears when late coach Seth Orlando Boois invited me to the Brave Warriors camp after a friendly match with the Otjozondjupa regional against the Brave Warriors at the Paresis Stadium in Otjiwarongo,” enthuses the previous star.

“I was still playing for my home team Global Warriors in the first division. The late Zambian coach Ben Bamfuchile was in charge of the national team at the time and we even went to play a friendly international match against Zimbabwe and I played the whole match.”

The whole class of 98 had been nonetheless attempting discover their footings on the time and the group was however they had been boosted by gamers like Mohammed ‘Slice’ Ouseb and Robert ‘Baggio’ Nauseb, who had been plying their commerce with South African glamour boys Kaizer Chiefs on the time and Ronnie ‘The Magnet’ Kanalelo who performed for the thrilling Mamelodi Sundowns.

Born by a Himba mom at Opuwo, within the Kunene area, Keister was raised by his paternal grandmother at Otjiwarongo.

He began to indicate soccer potential at a really younger age and it didn’t come as any shock in any respect when he was drafted into the Otjozondjupa under-17 group that misplaced within the ultimate of the Rossing Cup towards a Quinton ‘Magic’ Jacobs-led Khomas.

Keister first received a style of high flight soccer when he was recruited by coach Herman Katjiuanjo to affix Life Fighters who had been campaigning within the Namibian Premier League.

“I was persuaded by coach David ‘Fellah’ Snewe, who was coaching Black Africa at the time, to join the Namibian cup kings in the city in 2000. No player could resist an opportunity to play for the country’s most successful team. Their player list reads like a dream,” Keister notes.

“I mean, playing alongside star players like Lolo Goraseb, Masepo Dausab, Doc Jossop, Ruben van Wyk, Eric Quest and George Dlamini was every player’s dream. I joined without hesitation and I soon got the feel of how winning a league and major cup tournaments was.”

The soft-spoken star, who joined BA for granted winger, was quickly transformed right into a proper again by coach Ali Akhan who changed Snewe later and he loved his soccer in his new place.

Keister acquired an actual baptism of fireplace when he travelled to Egypt with the Brave Warriors the place they had been taught a complete free soccer lesson because the Pharaohs ran out 8-2 victors throughout a Fifa World Cup.

Keister, who was at all times runner-up for the sportsman of the yr title on the few instances that he was nominated at Paresis Secondary School, was additionally a powerful jumper who represented his area in each the excessive bounce and lengthy bounce on the nationals a couple of instances, with none success.

The former soccer participant describes his recreation as tactical and really direct.

“I was not one of the most skilful players and I mostly made use of my speed. I was super fit because I made sure that I put in a very good shift during team practice. I just played to my coach’s instructor and never tried to complicate matters for myself,” he says.

“My playing style was just to pass the ball and run into space to receive it back. It didn’t require a lot of skills, didn’t it? I was there when I was needed in defence and I always pushed up to add the numbers upfront when we were on the attack. I just loved joining the attack.”

The former Paresis Secondary School star additionally had a stint with SKW earlier than he went into retirement.

Keister’s profession was not at all times rosy as he ever regrets permitting himself into the entice of ingesting alcohol after coaching classes and even after video games, saying that by the point he realised it was too late and he discovered himself reliable to spice up, his largest remorse in life.

A divorcee, Keister is a proud father of two daughters.

“I am just happy I managed to get out of the habit of drinking alcohol and I even speak to young people from my community and I tell them to reject the temptation of drinking alcohol and to do drugs because it is of no use and doesn’t benefit you in any way,” he says.

“Right now I am employed as a handiman at a block of flats where I am doing occasional repairs like fixing doors, fitting broken windows and also fixing leaking taps. It is not something big but this is my way of saying that I am mending my ways and I am happy for the chance.”

Keister, who says that he’s happy with what he has achieved as a participant, mentions his former teammate and goalkeeper at Black Africa, because the particular person with the largest affect on his profession “because he always motivated us and warned us against the evils of drinking alcohol.”

The former defender admits that he misses his taking part in days so much including that he needs that he might flip again the clock to his taking part in days.

“My love for football is what made me still involved in the game as a coach. I’m coaching a second division team known as AmaRoots. We have a lot of talented players but some of these boys are just not serious about football. There is just no will to succeed,” Keister says.

“For them they consider football as a leisure time activity only with no ambition to move up to the first division and subsequently the premier league. They are not even dreaming about playing for the junior national teams which could open doors for them to play for the Brave Warriors.”

The retired star, who says that he misses the campings, togetherness and the touring with the nationwide group overseas is advising younger gamers to protect towards dangerous influences.

“Choose your friends very carefully in this life and stay away from friends who offer you alcohol and drugs. Those two doesn’t augur well for a sportsman because you have to respect your God-given talent. Work hard and make sure that you are always super fit,” he urges.