Up close with unheralded, multitalented true son of the soil…Norman Abraham ‘Pantsula Boy’ Job

Well, the name Norman Job might be synonymous with theatre, or, better still, with his well-documented cameo appearance on the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) television set. Nonetheless, the streetwise boy with the golden touch from the mixed-heritage Gemengde location was a multi-talented bloke who turned whatever he laid his tiny hands on into gold.

*The slight-built brother was a highly gifted ‘baller’, mesmerising robust defenders on the football fields with sheer skill and elegance, complemented by a slight touch of football arrogance. A valuable squad member of Black Africa Football Club’s golden era, Job was a fantastic football magician. *

*The boy disrespected seasoned defenders, let alone Sunday League campaigners. His unbelievable trademark dribbling skills, jaw-droppingly accurate passes, matured creativity, and overall ball artistry drove the appreciative crowd to the edge of their wooden benches at the old Katutura stadium. Truth be told, Job was a marvel to watch, the kind of athlete every honest, neutral, football-loving person would gladly fork out any amount of ‘Otjie’ (money) to squeeze through the turnstiles, just to watch the streetwise boy from the ‘hood’ bewitch the spherical object effortlessly. *

The much-adored socialite played football with flair, pride, and soul. Without a shadow of a doubt, Job will go down in history as one of the most talented, yet sadly underappreciated, attacking midfielders of his generation.

After numerous failed attempts to corner the slippery forward, New Era Sport finally managed to interview the streetwise actor-cum-anti-apartheid activist-turned-dribbling wizard for an exclusive interview about his carefully navigated, fun-filled life journey.

A proud product of the revered Jan Jonker Afrikaner Secondary School, holed up in the heart of Katutura location, Nama-10 section, adjacent to A.I. Steenkamp Primary Learning Institution, Norman Job was always stationed for greatness.

Born in Namibia’s commercial hub, Windhoek, in 1969, Norman Job spent a significant part of his formative years in Upington, South Africa, under the care of his grand old lady. However, his stay across the Orange River was abruptly disrupted when his granny took a bow from the game.

At 16, Job, finding himself in no man’s land without the care of his loving granny, was further worsened by constant violence and rife gangsters in the neighbourhood, was obliged to make a quick retreat towards his hometown. Some of his childhood buddies included the legendary sprinter Frank Fredericks, comedian Neville Basson, artist Richard Paklepa, and the late Gerson Auchab.

He attended the revered Jan Jonker Afrikaner Secondary School.

Interestingly, his life took a dramatic turn during a two-legged school tour in Kimberley and Bloemfontein. Job and his buddy Lucky Peters were smitten by the locals’ high-speed, low-to-the-ground, synchronised footwork dance style, famously known as ‘Mapantsula’ in township slang.

‘Eish… At first, the boys used to laugh at us whenever we tried to show off our newly acquired dancing style, but everything changed when a significant number of South African students, descendants, came to the Jacob Marengo Secondary School in Katutura to further their academic aspirations in a conducive environment.’

‘By then, dance contests were gaining momentum amongst the earners. We formed an eight-member dance group, christened German Boys from Gemengde location. My brother, this authentic dance style became an instant household street sub-culture in the township. Mapantsula was more than just a dance style; it served as a powerful tool for political expression to challenge South Africa’s illegal occupation of our ancestral land,’ recalls Job. In his final year at the learning institution, Job was appointed Head Boy. A calculated, multi-gifted young boy of decent upbringing, he never shied away from testing his God-given talent, trying his hand at multiple recreational activities, ranging from chasing an inflated pigskin (football) to acting whilst bravely challenging the puke-inducing system of racial segregation during the much-despised apartheid era.

Growing up in the mixed-heritage Gemengde location, a cool, non-tribal section, home to a significant number of economic refugees, chiefly from South Africa, Angola, Transkei, Botswana, and further afield, who descended from the semi-desert Land of the Brave in search of greener pastures, Job was exposed to a variety of dangerous life challenges at an early age.

A staunch Black Africa FC supporter, Job started out playing street football as a ‘Snot-neus Pikinini’ to while away time, but the skillful attacking midfielder had his eyes firmly set on wearing the dark and blood stripe of his boyhood team, Black Africa, once the opportunity presented itself.

He finally broke into the star-studded BA squad, hardly out of his pair of shorts, playing alongside his heroes, including Fellah Snewe, Rusten Mogane, Bigman Schultz, Fighter Luis, Lucky Boostander, Kandas Poulino, Croocks Casper, Frank Fredericks, Erich Quest, George Martin, Falcao Hochobeb, and others.

Job etched his name into the club’s filthy-rich history books during its flawless golden era, winning several high-profile trophies. Regrettably, his desire to free his motherland from the shackles and brutality of racial discrimination curtailed his progress, and the much-adored ball juggler never really reached his full potential.

Football became a secondary option to Job’s hectic schedule. In his final year at school, he was appointed Head Boy. The calculating boy, wearing his traditional bright smile on his baby face, was eventually swallowed up by student politics, always at the forefront of the militant student movement, the Namibia National Students Organisation (Nanso).

He shepherded the Jan Jonker Students Brigade (JJSB) under the supervision of the equally unfazed pair, Lucky Pieters and Elsie Maseke. The movement vigorously advocated drastic educational reforms for local students, including the immediate abolition of the inferior Bantu Education Curriculum, tailored to disenfranchise the country’s indigenous citizens.

Sadly, Job became a wanted man, facing possible death, disappearance without trace, or, worse still, a long jail term, with law enforcers circling above his home like starving vultures. He could no longer stomach the constant harassment and resolved to flee his motherland, escaping on foot across the border via the dangerously crocodile-infested Kavango River to Angola.

After some intense cross-examination upon arrival, Job was integrated into PLAN infrastructure. He became a member of the Military Contingent responsible for the safe passage of logistics supplies and human cargo across Angola.

Apart from his involvement in politics, Job was a highly gifted playwright, actor, artist, activist, and salted comedian. He selflessly helped shape the ailing fortunes of Theatre at a time when opportunities for marginalised communities to encroach on the sacred entertainment space for elites were extremely limited.

Lest we forget, the multi-skilled fellow co-hosted the popular pre-recorded Local Band Stand televised show on the South West Africa Broadcasting Corporation (SWABC/NBC) Television alongside the legendary Lindsay Scott. May his gentle soul continue to rest in eternal peace.

**Life after football, theatre, and **

student politics

Unlike a significant number of his former teammates and fellow actors, who have, in the meantime, fallen on hard times after retiring from playing competitive football, Job is still going strong despite having taken a much deserved sabbatical from active politics.

A proven streetwise ‘Wakey’ in the true sense of the word, the easygoing boy from the sophisticated Gemengde enclave kept his feet firmly on the ground. The brother currently works for the Ministry of Arts and Culture, holding a senior portfolio befitting years of uninterrupted sacrifice.

An undisputed captain of the industry, the brother rubbed shoulders with promising local playwrights, including Lucky Pieters, David /Nanub, John Isaaks, Andre Straus, Simon /Nauriseb, Christie, Boetiekie Kavandje, Padda Kgobetsi, Boli Mootseng, Leon Beukes, Joseph Molapong, and the late quintet of Big Freddy Philander, Hansina, Dawid Ndjavera, Robert Isaacs and Stanley van Wyk, to name but a few.

Cometh the hour, cometh the man. Norman Job, an uncompromising, fearless figure in the volatile entertainment industry and an unwavering political activist, will go down in history as a true son of the soil who has given his all for the liberation of Namibian citizens.

Brother man, you might have stepped away from the entertainment space, but your immense contribution and amazing legacy will never be erased from the memories and hearts you so dearly touched with your soothing trademark humour and, of course, your selfless intellectual generosity.

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