The game of the homeboys

Many footballers who are now playing for big clubs and their countries somehow share the same beginnings.

This beginning is where passion is first experienced and where football is just played for fun or even for enough money to buy ice.

Sometimes, mothers come holding their belts looking for their children who have been missing from home the entire day.

There are no referees and the ball used in the streets is often made of plastic bags.

The goal pole is often made with a pair of bricks or even with a pair of shoes.

Many may say that street football is a waste of time, but deep in the locations, it remains a tradition and many a soccer star's illustrious career started from street football.

Some football teams from the locations which graduated to first division clubs were formed during street football games deep in the heart of Katutura.

The joy of the young ones is often electric and on a good day, the matches can attract a few spectators [mainly from that street].

In Brazil, street football has been a common sport which has also produced plenty of talent including the likes of Ronaldinho.

Former Brave Warriors player, Eslin Kamuhanga, is a testimony of the street game here in Namibia.

“We used to play on the gravel road in our street and I can tell you that our parents were infuriated by the fact that we returned home late and dirty.

“However, after a nice hiding, we still returned to the streets the next day just to play street football.

“This is where we first discovered that we actually had talent,” Kamuhanga remembers.

After starting with street football, the player has gone on to play for more than three premier league clubs, including playing for a team in Germany.

Bloemfontein Celtic Winger, Deon Hotto's fame is also from the dusty and salty streets of Swakopmund and shares the same history and he is a former African Stars player.

Hotto remembers how he was bullied by the bigger boys, while playing in the street teams.

“My discovery and love for the game started at the time I was playing street soccer.

“I was just five when I started playing with the older boys. Sometimes they would bully us, but they taught us how to be tough.

“Today, I am playing for one of the finest teams in the South African Premiership,” Deon Hotto said with pride.

While the two Namibian stars have already benefited from street football, there are many young ones who are following in the footsteps of these stars.

In the streets of Soweto, a group of young boys gathers every afternoon to test their skills.

They often compose teams of four players each and each team must score one goal to win in order to send the opponents out.

Some of these boys have voluntarily dropped out of school, while others could not afford to go to school.

Others are still in their primary school years, aspiring to become the next Lionel Messi of this world.

“I grew up in this location and street football has always been a common sport here.

“I know that the cars are always hooting at us and we are sometimes forced to stop the game because a ball struck and broke the window of a house nearby.

“It is fun for me and important because it keeps us away from drugs and many other social ills,” a young Hernano Khaiseb said.

Romano Hangara who is a Jan Mohr School learner describes how the game has sharpened his skills.

He believes that the future will yield great results if he continues playing street football.

“I want to become the greatest footballer this country has ever seen. I want to play for the best clubs in the world and my dream starts here in the streets.

“I hope that someone will be able to spot my talent, while I am just showcasing my skills here on the dusty streets,” Hangara said.

Tjaimba Kauraisa who attends school at the Namibia Primary School has a dream of his own.

“Football has always been a passion for me and playing with my homeboys in the street gives me plenty of joy.

“Our group sometimes gathers and we go to play with other street teams in the location.

“Just like anyone else, I want to be a great player for my country,” Kauraisa said.

Jesse Jackson Kauraisa