Fredericks without club

…As BA contract ends

By Michael Uugwanga

ONE of the country’s most exciting midfielders, Dynamo Fredericks is currently without a club after his contract with reigning MTC/Namibia Premier League (NPL) ended in June this year.

Fredericks (27) joined BA from Civics in 2013 and has been one of the standout players for BA over the past six years and earning himself a regular place in the Brave Warriors squad under Bobby Samaria, while under former coach Ricardo Mannetti he was more of a second choice in the middle of the park.

Last season Fredericks helped Black Africa win the MTC/NPL title, as well as helping the Brave Warriors qualify for their second successive African Nations Championship (CHAN) tournament scheduled for Cameroon next year.

Fredericks was part of the Brave Warriors squad at the 2018 CHAN tournament in Cameroon and was also in the national squad at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Egypt between June and July.

Speaking to Confidente Sport Desk this week, Fredericks revealed that he is currently without a club and is waiting for an offer from Black Africa, but if approached by another club he would have to consider it.

“I am currently out of contract with Black Africa since June this year. It is not only me but most – if not all – the players. I do train on my own because Black Africa has not started with training. I’m always at the Genesis gym in Soweto in order to keep myself fit. If a local club is interested in my service I will have to reconsider it.

“I do want to play for Black Africa if they give me an offer. I do not get a salary from Black Africa and this is where we soccer players in Namibia make a living from. I only depend on the small salary that I get from the Brave Warriors when called-up. However, my aim is to play outside Namibia once the transfer window re-opens in January next year.

“I really enjoyed my time at Black Africa and the coach (Paulus Shipanga) really improved my game as he has been a great mentor on and off the field as he listens to players’ problems. He taught me how to be more composed and not to lose the ball a lot,” said Fredericks.

Fredericks, who earned the nickname ‘Dynamite’  from commentators at the CHAN tournament in Morocco last year with his never-say-die attitude said he is also without an agent and revealed that he was on the verge of joining South Africa’s first division outfit Jomo Cosmos.

“I was supposed to join Jomos Cosmos after the CHAN tournament but it was due to paperwork that took so long to be finalised resulting in my move not materialising. This year I was searching for my own clubs such as in Zambia, South Africa and Ethiopia but nothing materialised. My agent used to be Collin April but now I don’t have an agent. If I happen to get a club outside Namibia in January, this means that I will not play in CHAN,” Fredericks noted.

Another highly rated Brave Warriors player currently without a club is Petrus Shitembi, who is also searching for a club. Fredericks in turn was handed the captaincy by Bobby Samaria during Namibia’s campaign in the CHAN qualifiers and also captained Black Africa’s last season.