Name : Alexander Lafika Itumba
Date of Birth : 05 Dec 1981
Place of Birth : Epyaliwa-Oshikulufitu. Ombalantu
Career Organization: Ministry of Education
Position : Teacher
Club : A-Class Soccer Academy/Ogongo United FC/Africa Motto FC
Position : Coach
Your personal journey in sports, particularly soccer, is a heartwarming testament to the power of family support and inspiration. It’s clear that your family played a pivotal role in nurturing your passion for the game. Can you share how your love for sports started?
My involvement in sports started my primary school, in fact at Oneeya Combined School in Ogongo in the Omusati region. This is the place where I chose to become a soccer player.
I have so many brothers and we started practicing soccer populace using entrance and exit doors as goalposts. We acquired most of football techniques at home and our father was supportive.
He always make sure that we have a ball to play. As a player am inspired by Austin Jay Jay Okocha of Nigeria. Coaching am inspired by my Uncle Kornelius Yoyo Dominikus. I would like to say my family influenced my playing career and Coaching and they are my role models. Especial my Father, May his Soul Continue resting in peace and guides from above.
As for now Alexander Itumba is a Teacher by professional at Oshakati Secondary School and have won many trophy as coach. And he is Chairman of Ogongo United FC and CEO of Africa Motto FC and Owner of A-Class Soccer Academy.
Your father’s unwavering support and provision of a soccer ball ensured that you had the tools to hone your skills and pursue your passion.
Oh yeah, infect this has contributed to my successes, such as winning Bidvest Cup and Debmarine Cup on regional level for two season in row. One of the greatest moment is being also the longest serving captain for Ogongo United FC to date.
I cannot emphasis enough how proud I was a Coach, when I won the Namibian Newpaper Cup 2016 with Oshana Regional team. Another one is collecting 6 points on the road (Windhoek) against Citizen and UNAM FC 2016/2017 season as head Coach of Young Chiefs when I only have two players on the bench.
The special one is when Africa Motto FC won Oshana Second division invincible. The record is yet to be broken.
Has there been instances when you have felt that you have not been supported by your leadership with all the accolades you have highlighted above? How did you handle this challenge, and how did it affect your coaching approach and principles?”
I can only talk issues that have affected or undermined my passion in coaching, especially when certain club leaders are involved. I remember one incident when certain individuals from the club I was coaching persuaded players not to travel with the squad to games that were scheduled outside our home ground, so that should I loss the games, then they had a reason to fire me.
Unfortunately I motivated the players to trust those who came along and they played as a team. I always stick to my words and I take responsible of my action.
Another incident happened when we reached the final of newspaper cup 2014, unfortunately my number one goalkeeper broke his arm and I had to use an on-field player and we lost final to Kavango.
One of the most painful incidents, that hurt me most, was when Africa Motto FC lost to Military School in promotion play off thereafter Military School sold their status to Okahandja United. This was my chance to go to the premier league, but it was not to be.
How do you approach setbacks and failures, and what motivates you?
I have learnt to handle setbacks and failures, more as learning lesson. It’s a good learning curve that continue to help me to look forward and plan better for future. And this is the reason I wake up every day to turn those failures in success. I have told myself that I have to keep on fighting till I get it right.
Being involved the game of football and all the hiccups, you have gone through, do you think it has helped to shape who you are?
I believe, looking at my record of achievement, and how I continue to push myself, I have evolved; from being an ordinary football player to a club captain, from being Academy Coach to Premier league Coach and Coach’s instructor.
I have been pushing the boundaries, and from having achieved the NFA C Coaching license to being one amongst those who hold the CAF C Coaching License.
What keeps you motivated?
I have learned never to give up on your dreams. My key lessons in life is to compete against myself from the person I was yesterday to a person I want be tomorrow. And one important things never allow negativity to overshadow your positivity, stay focus and be yourself you can always be.
For those who have seen you grow and those who worship you, what can you tell them?
To anybody who has a dream of becoming a football player or a coach, you need to remain discipline on and off the field, train like a slave and the most important things never stop learning/studying.
How do you balance the demands of the game, your career and your family?
As a family man, it’s a challenge when it comes to balance between my career and personal life. As I said before, due to the challenges I have gone through over the years, I have come to realize that planning is the key, but what is important is when you have people around you who give you all the support and encourage you to keep pushing.
Am so blessed to have one of the supportive family. Okapandja residents I salute you.
So you have a supportive family, from the onset, who has been you main source of inspiration over the years?
The following people are my mentors or sources of inspiration: Mr. Yoyo the founder and father of the academies at the Northern part of the country. Coach educator, Egnus Elemi currently head Coach of Life Fighters, as he was the first coach that would give me a tip of honest tactical approach to different opponents and mental support.
My family always stand out as my mental and emotional support from day one and everyone who been there for me throughout up to now I appreciate your continued undivided support.
How can you describe a day in the life of Alex, the teacher, coach?
I have over the years developed a daily routine as a habit that I follow. So my day will start with prayers in the morning, followed by morning exercise, and then I go and teach, after I go and take on the responsibility of training other, so that they can become better players and responsible citizens.
Is there any aspect of the game that you enjoy most?
Having been a soccer player, almost all my life, as I said in the early years we used to have makeshift goals, this is what I love about the game, I love the thrill of celebrating goals, good combination play and most important is winning matches. Nothing make me happier than winning.
I don’t like anybody, especially my opponents who don’t show sportsmanship at the end of the match. I don’t appreciate match officials who threatens players and coaches. And I hate players who do not have respect for matches.
You mentioned earlier that you have mentor and people who inspire you, but what keeps you motivated?
What keeps me motivated is when i look at players that i trained from Academy and are now playing in top league, representing in regional teams and national team. It gave me courage to develop more players.
One of the challenge in coaching junior players is when you break the promise, if you inform them about the training session and you fail to turn up it will be serious setback to the entire team no matter the valid reason you have. All they want is to play. Another less enjoyable aspect is football politics more especially when people involved are not well informed.
Personally you have achieved a lot, do you think you have had an impact on others?
My involvement in sport has touched a lot of lives and changed most of young people to live a better life. Most of them look up to me as their role model.
One of the recent accomplishment so far in my career is when we managed to bring NFA C License Coaching Course to Omusati region for the first time.
If given the chance to turn the clock back, is there anything you would like to change?
When I look back I would say I have gained valuable experience playing football for many years and also having coached almost all division.
If I could go back in time, I would have avoided conduct that resulted in my shoulder dislocation that mark the end of my active playing.
