Matebele’s Jacobs sends warning to rivals
Kabelo Boranabi | Saturday August 26, 2023 06:00
In a historic development, Jacobs assumed the role of head coach for the rookies under a one-year contract, with an option for an additional year. He has become the first Namibian coach to land a coaching job in Botswana. Jacobs and the Matebele team step into uncharted territory, with their debut in the BPL scheduled for September 16 against Security Systems.
At 47-years-old, Jacobs has made it clear that he did not embark on the Trans-Kalahari highway journey merely to make up the numbers in the local league. His aspirations are set on achieving a top-eight finish in the season. "My club is very ambitious and nothing wrong with it and I am also very ambitious. I did not come here to make up numbers. I also want that (top eight).
But that objective can only be met if all stakeholders, management, technical team, players and supporters work hand in hand and we have one mindset. Me, the technical team and the players’ best efforts will be fruitless if management is not on par and vice versa," Jacobs told Mmegi Sport this week.
Having curtailed his playing career at the age of 22, Jacobs transitioned into coaching in 1998, assuming his first role with Namibia's youth club, Diamond United.
His induction into the Namibia Premier League came in the 2001-2002 season with Civics FC, where he clinched his first league championship during his second stint with the club in the 2005-2006 season. Jacobs won his second league championship with Orlando Pirates in the 2007-2008 season. He enjoyed successful tenures with Namibian giants, Tigers FC, from 2006-2018, culminating in a second-place finish with the team in the 2017-2018 season. Amongst his accolades, he steered Eleven Arrows away from relegation in the 2011-2012 season, despite joining the club midway through. He also secured the NFA Cup with African Stars in the 2013-2014 season.
Jacobs held the position of Namibia's national team assistant coach for CHAN from 2020-2021 while serving as the head coach for the Namibia senior women's team during the final round of WAFCON 2022 qualifiers. Acknowledging not having planned to leave his homeland, Jacobs jumped at the opportunity to join Matebele when the head coach role became available. He regards the move as both "very historic and heart-warming" not only for himself but also for coaches throughout Namibia. Jacobs believes that his compatriots have remained within their comfort zones for an extended period. “Initially, I never thought of coaching outside my country. I was actually preparing myself for another season in Namibia, but in early July, a friend sent me a post on Facebook regarding a team in Botswana that was looking for a CAF A-licensed coach, and I thought, let me give it a try.
I received a call two days thereafter from the chairman of Matebele FC, Moreetsi Kediseng who invited me to Botswana. After some talks and a visit to their premises, I went back to Namibia.
“I then received an offer which I was hesitant to take seeing that I would be giving up my entire life in Namibia for the unknown. But as fate and destiny would normally dictate, things started to unfold and made me realise that all roads were leading to Matebele FC. After a thorough introspection and consultation, I finally made up my mind and decided to join the Matebele FC family,” Jacobs said. He believes he has done it all in Namibia and has set the bar high for himself ahead of tasting the local competitive football.
“I am one of the biggest critics and I put myself under a lot of pressure to succeed. And with Matebele FC, it is and will be no different. Although new to the league, I will strive to compete, (it) doesn't matter the opponent. I also want to play a good brand of football that even the neutral or opponent can enjoy. I am here to win football matches. I also regard myself as a winner and I came here to win,” he said. Jacobs added it is too early to make league championship predictions as he is still acclimatising to the local football scene. He watched Jwaneng Galaxy and Gaborone United while he led his side in a friendly match against Masitaoka.