Born on 3 June 1969, young Nelson Luis was introduced to the beautiful game of football at an early age, and was always a starter in the school teams in the different age categories. A speedy winger blessed with an educated left foot, young Luis demonstrated flashes of greatness whilst turning out for the Centaurus learning institution, starting from junior up to the senior level.
After some impressive performances for the school’s senior football side, Luis was spotted by Ramblers’ talent scouts who lured him to Tunschell Street, alongside other highly-gifted young boys ushered by the usual cool-as-cucumber midfield kingpin Paolo Martins, Jorge da Purificacao, Paolo ‘Nugger’ Noqueria, Viljoen siblings Jose, Gino and Danny, Mario Carreira, Ricky Averia, and a few others.
After a couple of matches for Rammies’ second-strings, the fast-as-lightning winger was elevated to the first team, where he rubbed shoulders with greats Bobby Craddock, Jeff Luck, Joseph Martin, Bertus Damon, Alan Gonsalves, Richard Wahl, Karl-Heinz ‘Butzi’ Schulz, Mario Rodriques and free-scoring, fast-as-lightning attacker Juku Tjazuko, amongst a galaxy of superstars.
A natural goalscorer of note, Luis’ talent did not go unnoticed as he was duly rewarded for his hard work. The hardshooting attacker was selected to represent the South West Africa (SWA) Combined team in the South African Inter-Provincial tournament at different youth levels.
Upon completing his secondary tuition, the blue-eyed son of a local grocery shop and fast-food dealer located at the corner of Nelson Mandela and Okonguari street, in the Eros suburb was dispatched across the Orange River to further his academic aspirations at the Port Elizabeth Technikon in Industrial Engineering in the southern harbour city. He continued rattling the opposition nets while playing for the college’s football team.
Regrettably, a niggling knee injury abruptly ended any further flirtation with the spherical object, obligating the hard- shooting winger to pack his deadly togs. Nonetheless, unlike many retired athletes who have turned their backs on the game which has made them famous, Luis would not follow the same route.
The business-minded young fellah relocated to the northern town of Rundu alongside the great Kavango River to explore new business opportunities. In no time, the brother established himself as a vital cog to the local community as he saw the need of helping the needy through vigorous engagement in community projects.
He acquired the status of previously- unknown football club Julinho Athletic and turned it in to a major force to be reckoned with in the vastly-populated Kavango region. With Luis at the helm as the designated mentor, the new kid on the block dismantled the traditional dominance of local giants Rundu Chiefs and Cuca Tops, toppling the two giants from their pedestal.
As it stands, Julinho is one of the best- administered football clubs in the country’s flagship league. Despite being compelled by the country’s football authorities to operate and compete under extremely inhuman, difficult conditions, made to travel long distances to fulfill their brutally-assigned league fixtures, the club has been able to avoid the chop to the lower tier.
Athletic has since established themselves as a steady mid-table team. The club has unearthed raw talent, on top of introducing previously-unknown athletes and blokes of remarkable pedigree, including recently- appointed Deputy Sheriff of Namibian sport Dino Ballotti, son of former Ramblers FC attacker Luigi Ballotti. A devoted Christian, Luis is the proud owner of Coca Cola Hardware in Rundu.