Name : Veronica Van Wyk
Date of Birth : 06January 99
Place of Birth : Gobabis
Career : Radio Presenter/Producer
Organization : NBC Kaisames FM
Position : Central Back/Right Back
Club : Girls and Goals FC
Sport : Football
Who is Vero?
My full name is Veronica Verona Van Wyk better known as Vero, I consider myself as a Brave Gladiators, as I have represented the Namibia National Women Football team as a player. I currently play for the Girls & Goals Football Team in the NFA Women Super League as defender.
Currently am a freelance sports producer/presenter at NBC Kaisames FM.
Okay, a football player and a media practitioner, how did all this start?
I was born and raised in the eastern part of Namibia a town called Gobabis, and that is where my football career started, I still remember my mom shouting my name thinking am in the house only to find me in the street playing with boys. My teenage journey was just fun, I used to be everywhere playing netball, soccer, I was even taking part in school choir and athletics, I even obtained several medals for short distance running and high jump at regional level, however I found my passion in football.
So how did the football thing as a career start?
I started playing football at home at #Khoandawes Primary school in which Galz and Goals league was introduce and different schools had to compete in to create u17 regional team, this initiative was geared towards selecting players that would attend trials in Windhoek for the selection of U17 national team, and that is how I got my first Junior called up under the leadership of Coach Melvin Mbakera. I was so excited that I did not even know what we were actually competing for, and I remember the coach asking me, “Why are you here?” and I answered “to play football”. It was then he informed me that we were scheduled to go and play against Botswana for the World Cup Qualifiers, and we needed to win that match. I did not care at that moment as I was so excited and my mindset was just to play football and enjoy.
Why football and not athletics or netball?
You see in 2014, Namibia hosted the Women African Cup of Nations in Windhoek, and at that time I was just in Gobabis minding my own business, I was walking down town to buy petrol for the generator so that we could watch the Brave Gladiators’ play, when Zenatha Coleman scored from a free kick, I felt goose bumps on my body and that is when I told myself, “one day I’m going to play next to her, and Stacey Naris”.
Football and life are provides opportunities for one to grow, how there been people who have had a significant influences or role models that have shaped your path?
Definitely yes, in fact there are a lot of people who have had and continue to play a vital role in my life. (Laughing) I call them “my three iron ladies”, these are Ms. Justine Hamupolo, Ms. Jacqueline Gertze and Ms. Jacqueline Shipanga. This women have been instrumental into who I have become, and they continue to influence and contribute to my growth as a person, and this is not only in football but also in education.
These ladies played and still continue to play an important role in my life, from football to my education. And then there is this lady, my teammate, my elder sister, who we met through the game of football, her name is Lovisa Mulunga, a person that I admire so much, not just because of the way she commands and uses her strength and physical ability on the field, but also her mental ability to be able to play any position on the field. She is one who is a go getter and very open minded, and that is why that’s why I look up to her.
You sound life you have had a jolly good ride in your football career, do you have any proud moments in your career?
This was the best feeling in my life, it’s a moment I will cherish forever, and this is when I made my debut in the senior National team. I remember it was at COSAFA 2021, when the coach announced the team that was to take to the field for the first match the day before, my name was called as part of the first eleven, I was so nervous and couldn’t even sleep that night. When the game day arrived, I went on that pitch and played like a Gladiators and thank God Lovisa helped me to control my nerves as I was actually playing next to her as a right back and she made it seem easy for me and we drew that match 0-0 against Uganda so making my senior debut was the proudest moment of my football career.
Football has always been regarded as a man’s game, have you had low moments or challenging times, because of your choice of these specific sport?
When I started taking playing football seriously, it was very tough for me, as any father would want their girl to be a sissy and assist at home. My father did not want me to play football, due to a perception, saying that I would turn into a tom boy. To make it worse i I failed grade 10 and my father blamed football. At the same time my parents divorced and my mother had a different perspective in which she was very supportive of me playing football. During this time, a lot was going through my mind, to an extend that I was even shy of going back to school, but my mother encouraged me to go, which I did and I passed my 2 year repeating grade 10 with 27 points. After passing my grade 10 in 2017, I was scouted by TD JS to come stay at the NFA Girls center, and am honored to be one of the girls to finish my education while staying at the center. The NFA Girls center was established to cater for young girls such as myself and other, and was operated with rules such that we would wake up early in the morning go gym, bath, eat, go to school, come back, do our homework, while being assisted by tutors, go for football training in the afternoons, come back, bath, eat dinner and go for evening studies. That was my routine staying at the center and then the weekends was meant for football, there was even a Centre football team, and back at home I never had such an opportunity of being assisted with school work and stuff. I would do my work for myself in whatever way I’ll understand and run off for training then I still had to come back home make fire and cook fetch water and being the only girl that was tough for me. Coming back to the center, I met Ms. Justine through those tutoring classes and she had to guide me in what I wanted to further my studies, fast forward because of her I am here.
Coming from such a background must be tough, can you share any key lessons or insights you’ve gained from your experiences, both positive and negative?
Growing up is tough, I experienced being criticize just because I wanted to play football, some will say I’m a tomboy and that I should stop, that was tough for me, but then at the back of my mind I knew what I wanted. I knew I fell in love with this game and people’s words wouldn’t block me diving deep into playing football because that’s all I wanted to do besides going to school.
So far you consider yourself to have achieved what you wanted, what advice do you have for other young girls and boys?
First and foremost you must know what you want, and you must be passionate about it. If you know want you want to achieve, you should have a plan that includes your short and long term goal. You must keep focus to achieve your short term goal first because that’s the one that will have an impact on your long term goals, don’t listen to whatever people say, if it’s right keep doing it.
Do you find it difficult to balance your football, your career and personal life?
Some people say it’s not easy, but for me it’s simple your career is your life, it’s like you depend on it. Once you are popular, you do not have a personal life anymore, you have people that look up to you, on and off the pitch, what you eat, drink, where and with who you associate yourself, all this matters. All you need to do is to make it your comfort zone, because it’s the life that you chose, always strive to do well and enjoy your life.
Are there other people that influenced you or have been a sources of inspiration?
When I started playing for Galz & Goals league back at home in Gobabis, I met Coach Jeraldo Eiseb, the first thing he asked was, “where are your soccer boots?” I told him that I did not own any and he just let me play. Every day after a training session he would remind me to come back the following day, I only realized later that he was reminding me to come back, this was like a motivation to me that I’m doing good and can be better.
To be good in any skill, one needs to find a balance, how do you go about it?
My typical training would be to go to the gym in the morning and then for afternoon training with the team. What I’ve experienced throughout my football career thus far is that anyone can be physically ready, however being emotionally and mentally ready is challenging, say for instance we have been called up for national training, before going to play, you need to eat the right food, you need to sleep on a comfortable bed and get paid on time. If those things are not sorted out before a match, emotionally I’m at 0%, I don’t care whether I’m physically fit, and all is lost.
Do you enjoy being involved in sports?
Oh yes, I enjoy being with my teammates once in a year because most of the times everybody gets caught up figuring this life thing and once we get together it’s like taking a break and just kick that ball and enjoy the game.
What keeps you motivated?
God, waking up every day just to realize that I have been given another chance to peruse my dreams
Are there any elements of the sport that you find particularly challenging or less enjoyable?
Fitness. I mean who in Namibia likes fitness, especially coming back from the festive season, that’s a tough pill to swallow. The fact that you still have to go through it before touching the ball is sickening. But it’s the life that we choose.
Do you have a life outside football?
Because of football I finished my education, just the fact that I was part of the Galz & Goals project I became wiser at an early age. During the Galz & Goalz project we were taught how to balance your school with football how to say no to negative peer pressure, effects of alcohol and drug use and forth, personally staying at the NFA girl center helped me to keep focusing on what I wanted to be whiles keeping those lesson in mind.
What accomplishments do you consider to be the highlights of your career so far?
I’m proud of the way I grew into football alone, I remember coming from a town like Gobabis we didn’t had a chance have individual training with a coach, I didn’t even know how to juggle a ball, all we did was to go and play, but staying at the centre helped me to work on that.
I remember Zenatha Coleman and Millicent Hikuam guiding me on how to juggle, including different skills. And the same football helped me to finish my education I recently graduated, I’m a Media Arts Radio production Graduate all thanks to football.
Any goals for the future, both in your career and personally?
At the moment I picked up a serious knee injury which I need to go for MRI scan and a surgery, I see myself coming back on the pitch strong and healthy, other than that I’m looking forward to another academics achievement.
What can you tell those starting out now?
“Whatever you put your mind to, just do it full out, and through your sports journey if you are capable of getting a certificate, diploma, Degree or any qualification, go for it too you literally don’t know what the future holds”.
Looking back what have you learnt through this journey?
I have failed many times, academically yes, in football yes, but I didn’t gave up at all.
Those were just learning curves for me. It was just a reminder that I can do better.
Is there anything you would do differently in your career or life path, if given the opportunity to go back in life?
No, not at all, if I didn’t fail then I wouldn’t be grateful of my achievements this far. Anything solid was just a booster but I embrace my failures too. I wouldn’t change anything.
At the moment I picked up a serious knee injury which I need to go for MRI scan and a surgery, I see myself coming back on the pitch strong and healthy, other than that I’m looking forward to another academics achievement.
What can you tell those starting out now?
“Whatever you put your mind to, just do it full out, and through your sports journey if you are capable of getting a certificate, diploma, Degree or any qualification, go for it too you literally don’t know what the future holds”.
Looking back what have you learnt through this journey?
I have failed many times, academically yes, in football yes, but I didn’t gave up at all. Those were just learning curves for me. It was just a reminder that I can do better.
Is there anything you would do differently in your career or life path, if given the opportunity to go back in life?
No, not at all, if I didn’t fail then I wouldn’t be grateful of my achievements this far. Anything solid was just a booster but I embrace my failures too. I wouldn’t change anything.
