Collin Benjamin was in that Namibian 'Dream Team' that brought Bafana Bafana to their knees in the 1998 COSAFA Cup. He was an all-rounder that could be utilised in any position of the field and gained a reputation in Germany as a loyal, hard-working servant of Hamburg FC. Such that many years later, on a recent visit, the club's supporters stopped and serenaded the Namibian when he came to analyse one of their matches, an indication of how much they loved the legendary former defender. In this interview with Soccer Laduma's Thomas Kwenaite, the current Brave Warriors coach gives us his views about next year's Afcon where the draw paired his nation against Bafana Bafana once more, and reveals his coaching philosophy that has seen them topple giants Cameroon. Who's the gaffer that taught him the finer points about how to succeed in coaching? What makes Peter Shalulile so special? Read on!
Thomas Kwenaite: How would you sum up the 2023 Afcon draw held in Abidjan last Thursday?
Collin Benjamin: It was a tough draw. As Namibians, we are not used to anything else other than it is always tough! There is no easy match for us. We always have to go to the utmost limits in every match that we play. But if you look at the composition of our group, it is very interesting. We have drawn a North African side (Tunisia), West African side (Mali) and, of course, our big brothers south of our borders (South Africa). So, it's a tough one but obviously one that we look at (and fancy) our chances because we know everybody will be looking at 'small' Namibia for points, but the 'small' Namibia has a point to prove.
TK: Despite a single victory against Bafana Bafana, the rivalry between the two countries is always intense.
CB: Obviously they are our big brothers and we share borders, and clashes between neighbours have that fierce but friendly rivalry. But they have what we want – they have the resources, the infrastructure. They have the players and most of our own players earn their living in South Africa. It will be an interesting encounter and obviously a game between the student and the master. But we know in some cases the student has shown that he can rise up against the master.
TK: Namibia's record against Tunisia – three losses in three – does not inspire confidence too.
CB: Going to the Nations Cup is positive and a major achievement to have qualified after beating Cameroon along the way. To be considered among the 24 best countries in Africa is an honour, and obviously they (Tunisia) are the favourites and their record globally speaks for itself. However, it is also a football tournament and we are looking at taking our chances. We want to do better than the last time at the previous tournament in Cameroon. We are going to be brave and gutsy! Whoever is going to come up against Namibia is not going to have it easy.
TK: Like you said, you guys defeated the Indomitable Lions at home during the qualifiers. How was this milestone achieved?
CB: As a matter of fact, we played a draw in Yaoundé and beat them at our 'home' in Dobsonville, ha, ha, ha. That was definitely an achievement on its own, which was attained through good preparation. For us, in those games we proved our capabilities and the ability to box with the big boys. It is exactly how we would like to stand up to the big hitters of African football at this tournament and in future. We need to be in a very good space obviously, physically, and let me stress that we are looking forward to taking our chances and we want to do at the Nations Cup what we did to Cameroon in Dobsonville.
TK: How important is Peter Shalulile to this generation?
CB: An absolute professional and humble soul. We know obviously he is a very talented player, breaking records in South Africa! What he is doing is inspiring this generation to say that everything is possible in life through hard work. He is not only our captain and one of the most important players but is also an icon in our country in a sense that every young player wants to be like him because of his achievements. As a person, he is also a very humble soul. We see it in the national team, he would be the first person to take the bags from the conveyor belt at airports and carry them onto the bus, helping the kit managers. That's what most Namibians see about him and they love him.
TK: We understand that in his formative years he was actually a defender!
CB: Ricardo Mannetti, our previous national coach, worked with Peter since the boy was 18 years (old), in the different national youth set-ups. He needed a left back and apparently Peter had played that position a long time ago, and he converted him. He never complained because for him it was all about being on the field playing. At some point, due to his pace, Mannetti played him on the wing and transformed him into a winger, and from a winger he was developed into the striker that we know him to be.
TK: For three years, there was no active football in Namibia. How much did this affect the game in the country?
CB: For a country not to have an active league for three solid years is crazy, to say the least. It's actually unheard of anywhere in the world. That is why to have qualified for the Afcon under such circumstances is so extraordinary. For me and the technical team, we are extremely proud of this group. That's why I think some people don't understand the magnitude of the achievement of these players. It also speaks of the potential that we have.
TK: When you succeeded Bobby Samaria as head coach, what changes did you effect?
CB: What I did when I took over from coach Samaria, I believed that we had to bring in organisation. We brought in structure and made the players believe, through discipline, hard work and through teamwork, that these are the guiding principles and values they need to embrace in order to succeed. We instilled in them the belief that you can be good as individuals but as individuals you have to bring the individual potential within the "team dynamics" and to have success together is sweeter.
TK: You spent most of your playing career in Germany. How did you join Schnelsen in the first place?
CB: I joined Schnelsen after turning 21 years and you will be amazed at how it happened. I just felt one day that because scouts do not come to Namibia… I undertook to go to where the scouts were. I simply packed my bags, took the risk and flew to Germany, where I was in the doldrums for two years but worked, very, very hard down in the lower divisions. I finally broke through to the professional set-up and I lived my dreams. And it's basically my philosophy and the way of life. I am out there and always encouraging my players that you have to work hard. It's never given on a silver platter and that's what we try to instil to the players. We are also their examples.
TK: You gained legendary status at Hamburger SC after a season at Elmshorn.
CB: I was at Hamburg for a total of 11 seasons, but I lived in the city for 14 years. My kids were born in Hamburg. I know the city like the back of my hands. It has a special place in my heart. I'm a fan of Hamburg and I think that's what the supporters appreciate. I was an honest, loyal hard worker. I gave my all for the club and left my last drop of sweat on the field every time I put on that shirt, and that is what they appreciated as that also stood for their value system in the north of Germany.
TK: Recently, you did TV work and was serenaded by Hamburg supporters before a home match where you got very emotional.
CB: Hamburgers are working-class people. They work the whole month to be able to spend two weekends at the stadium supporting their club, and that's the specialty of the Hamburg fans. That's what I did and that's how they put me in their hearts, and I became a part of them. I epitomised their spirit of hard work and the values they practised in their everyday life. I enjoyed that special bond that we shared and I became emotional because those people meant the world to me. Their love to me is unconditional and uninhibited. Basically that's the lessons I want to instil to my young players that nothing is for free; that you have to work hard for everything in life.
TK: We knew you as a midfielder, but sometimes people claim you were a defender. Can you set the record straight as to which position you were deployed in?
CB: When I left for Germany in 1999, I weighed 70kg. I was a right winger and very fast. I could sprint and my job was to beat the defender and bring in the cross. But, as time progressed, I went to midfield. I had a good phase in Germany, where I played defensive midfield and, in that season, we also qualified for the UEFA Champions League. The next season after qualifying for the Champions League, I went to defence as right fullback. I spent a good number of years as right back and towards the tail-end of my career, I played as a centre-back.
TK: Can you recall a memorable match in your career?
CB: I think (it was) during 2008 when we played in the UEFA pre-qualifying game against Osasuna in Spain. We drew 0-0 in Hamburg and then 1-1 in Spain to qualify for the Champions League proper on the away goal rule. It was a huge achievement because the last time Hamburg played in the Champions League had been 10 years previously, so it was a very special occasion for our fans, for our city and for ourselves.
TK: What was the best goal you ever scored?
CB: I have something like 12 goals that I scored in the Bundesliga with Hamburg, but the most memorable for me, even though I did not score it, would be (during) that Champions League game against Osasuna. I headed back a long cross and it rolled across the goal-line, where Nigel de Jong pushed it over the line. It was a goal that qualified us and, like I say, even though I didn't score, I was heavily involved in it and if De Jong did not push it across the line, it would have been mine. But the importance of the goal to the city and for the club was immense.
TK: Before becoming Brave Warriors coach, you worked as an assistant to Torsten Frohling at 1860 Munich. What did you learn from him?
CB: I had something like 11 coaches at Hamburg. I really had very good and excellent coaches including Martin Jol, Thomas Doll, Hubertus "Huub" Stevens. Those are all legendary coaches and I learned a lot from them. But Torsten basically took me from the reserve team and into his office. You know for German coaches, it's always about structure on the field and off the field, and that's the one value that I took from him.
TK: Which coach had a profound influence in your career?
CB: I would say Thomas Doll, without hesitation. When he came back to Hamburg, he instilled some kind of confidence that with additional hard work and belief you can achieve anything that you set your mind to. For instance, we managed to beat the seemingly invincible Bayern Munich and that's how we even qualified for the UEFA Champions League. That was Thomas Doll who said hard work brings confidence and that's what I took from him. I respect all my coaches and learned quite a lot from all of them, but Doll it has to be.
TK: Thank you very much, coach. We wish you the best of luck.
CB: You are most welcome, big brother!
On His Toughest Opponent
"There was this guy called Bernd Hollerbach. He was a typical German defender… powerfully built and strong as an ox and played left back. Every time I played against him, he would come at me so hard. I developed this philosophy that the only way that I could beat Hollerbach was (by) being stronger and faster than him. That is when the gym work started in earnest. But I can comfortably say, to a certain extent, that he toughened me up and also taught me to be a man. He has always been my toughest opponent."
