Bigman Schultz: The BA captain who led from the back

History will remember Tsumeb-born Franciskus ‘Bigman’ Schultz as one of the greatest captains Black Africa ever had. The hard-running fullback skippered the all-conquering Lively Lions to multiple cup triumphs – including an unprecedented Castle Classic Cup and the coveted Mainstay Cup double in 1989. But Bigman’s journey didn’t start on the big stage. He began his schooling at St Francis Catholic Primary in Tsumeb before moving to Windhoek at age 12. “I didn’t know much about school football growing up in Tsumeb,” he recalls. “I only got exposed to organised football at St Andrew’s Catholic Primary School in Windhoek. That’s where I played for the under-13 team. ” Even back then, you see the athletic build and recognise leadership traces in him. At St Andrew’s, he lined up alongside legends like sprint icon Frank ‘NamBlitz’ Fredericks and former Young Ones hotshot David ‘Donkey’ Majiedt.

From Windhoek, I moved on to Keetmanshoop, where I attended Suiderlig Secondary School. “At Suiderlig, I met the likes of Chris Amakali, Mabos Vries, and Salathiel ‘Stimela’ Ndjao. Those were very competitive years for a place on the school team,” Schultz reminisces. “Amakali went on to play for Black Africa and later Chief Santos in Tsumeb while Vries and Ndjao became household names with Katutura giants Orlando Pirates after school. ” Black Africa captain Franciskus ‘Bigman’ Schultz smashes the ball against Orlando Pirates’ dribbling-wizard Samora Apollus during a fiercely contested Katutura Derby. It was during his time at Keetmanshoop that Schultz started to play club football for the new kid on the block, Brasilie FC, which was actually his late father, Henry Schultz’ team. Says Schultz: “I started playing club football for Brasilie at Keetmanshoop. I will never forget our first…