Awaseb: From midfield maestro to iron-clad left-back

Pre-independence Namibia has produced top-class defenders, and former Black Africa defence stalwart Mike Awaseb was one of them.

Recruited from Dolam-based Pirates, the towering star initially joined as a midfielder before he was successfully converted into a defender.

“I played as a midfielder for Pirates before I was transformed into a defender by Herman ‘Pele’ Bashcke, who briefly coached Black Africa while back home in Namibia during the South African off-season,” Awaseb says.

“I really owe it to him, because my switch from midfield to defence transformed me into one of the most valuable players for the star-studded and all-conquering Black Africa (BA) team that dominated Namibian football.”

Awaseb may have reached the peak of his talent with the famous black-and-red outfit from Katutura, but the switch cost him his room at his family house.

“It was not a smooth switch from Pirates to BA. My dad was a die-hard supporter of Pirates and gave me an ultimatum that I should either continue with Pirates or leave his house,” he says.