‘We were mistreated’
As strange as it might sound to the younger generation, it so happened that when Robert Nauseb was signed by Kaizer Chiefs in the winter of 1998 from Namibian club Civics, it was the first time he had a club contract as a way to earn a salary from the game.
This was despite the fact that he had already played for three-and-a-half years in the Namibian Premier League for Orlando Pirates and Civics, after having initially spending time with lower division Black Morogo Chiefs from Otjiwarango, where he was born.
Back then, as now, Namibian footballers in the domestic league were part-timers, who trained late afternoon after their day job and only earned money when they won sponsored cup competitions.
“IF YOU WON FIVE GAMES IN A MONTH THEN IT MEANT AN EXTRA R5,000.”
“At Civics I wasn’t earning a cent because Namibian football back then wasn’t professional, and we were just playing for the love of the game,” Nauseb said.
“We would get bonuses if we won a tournament but there were no salaries or win bonuses for league games. What was the motivation then?
“Those years as a footballer you had to play in the national team to get appearances fees, camping money and win bonuses. We used to play hoping to get contracts out of the country and your chances
