• By Michael Uugwanga 

Namibia’s most successful female footballer Stella Stone (Lastborn) Williams, is bowing out of the game of soccer after more than three decades. The veteran foot-baller explained that the current FNB Women Super League (WSL) will be her last one.

While Williams is the longest-serving soccer player in the country, she was however never awarded or inducted in the local
sport wall of fame and neither recognised by the Namibia Sports Commission (NSC)’s annual sport awards. At this stage, it is unclear on whether she will be featuring in the African club premier division, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) or the Council of African Football Associations (COSAFA) champions league tournaments, later this year.

This week Confidente caught up with Williams, who fondly spoke about her life after retirement. She mentioned that coaching is on the cards. At Beauties FC she will be missed on the field of play, especially by the younger players such as Millicent Hikuam, Fiola Vliete, Leena Alweendo and Melissa Matheus. “I have come to the end of my playing time, as I have achieved what I wanted, and that is reclaiming the Beauties crown that we lost out to FC Ongos in the previous seasons. I am super excited and happy as I am stepping down as a league champion in my last season. 

It was an honour to have led this young Beauties squad to the championship title as a legend,” said Williams. Besides playing football, Williams was also a great netball player, having played netball for Civics and Orlando Pirates, however football was always her first choice.

“I have won few titles with Civics FC. With Beauties FC (formerly Okahandja Beauties) this is my 13th title. I am now looking for-
ward to the coaching world as I have already acquired a few coaching licenses,” explained Williams.

Stella has been instrumental in Beauties FC becoming the first team in the WSL to finish third, second and first in the last three years. This ended FC Ongos Lady’s dominance in the local game. Throughout the current season, Beauties FC remained untouch- able, compared to the last two seasons. However, this season they made sure that they close the gap between them and FC Ongos, resulting in them winning the title. 

Williams was lucky to have played alongside or against former great female footballers such as her current coach and owner of Beauties FC, Salome Iyambo, former Brave Gladiators head coach Jacqueline Shipanga, former UNAM Bokkies’ Jacky Gertze, former Brave Gladiators defenders Helvi Eliakim and Queen Manga, just a few to mention.