Hotto is hot property

Deon Hotto (33) is steadily moving towards becoming the Brave Warriors’ most capped player at international level.

Nicknamed DH7, Hotto will be celebrating his 34th birthday on 29 October.

The midfielder for the South African Premier League giants Orlando Pirates has also made 77 international appearances (including yesterday's AFCON qualifier against Zambia) for Namibia.

He represented the country for the first time on 12 June 2013 in a 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Nigeria at Sam Nujoma Stadium in Windhoek and is now just six games shy of overtaking centre-back Denzil Haoseb, who played 83 caps for the Brave Warriors.

Haoseb made his debut for the Brave Warriors in a friendly against Botswana in Maun on 16 March 2011.

The chairman of the Deon Hotto Foundation, Carl Pesat, says: “Deon has an extremely strong religious foundation and is currently brimming with confidence. He is looking forward to do Namibians proud at the African Cup of Nations and to add the South African Premier League winners medal, which is the only missing piece of silverware to his trophy cabinet.”

Hotto, who has so far scored 12 goals for the Brave Warriors, is also hot on the heels of Namibia’s top goal-poacher and recent team captain Peter Shalulile, who has made 56 appearances and hit the back of the net on 16 occasions.

He is also within reach (23 more needed) of joining an elite group of players who played 200 matches for Orlando Pirates.

His foundation intends to construct three DH Sports Facilities (each accommodating two 5-a side football courts and a netball court) in Swakopmund, Omaruru and Okahandja. According to Pesat, the foundation will present its business case to the municipal council of Swakopmund on 29 November.

The mandate of the Deon Hotto Foundation is to complement and assist with the provision of sports infrastructure and to uplift young disadvantaged persons and communities. The Foundation also intends to become the preferred sports agency for mentoring and managing young talent.

“Plans are also at an advanced stage to launch the Deon Hotto Kasi street soccer tournament. This event is open to youth teams based at the coast and will be hosted on the land earmarked for the construction of the Deon Hotto stadium by the Foundation.

“Roland Jacobs, the owner of Streethouse, has come on board and will sponsor sports equipment and prizes for the tournament which will cater for players from grade 8 up to players aged 23.”

The Foundation has also started with the groundwork for the next edition of the Deon Hotto Charity Cup. “Karibib or Outjo are strong contenders in the race to possibly host the 2025 edition of the tournament in June,” Pesat said.

The inaugural edition was hosted in Henties Bay in 2019, the second edition in Henties Bay (2022), the third edition took place in Swakopmund (2023) and the fourth edition in Omaruru this year.

The foundation also started a donation initiative in 2018, providing two donations per year to old-age homes, orphanages, schools and sports clubs. Previous beneficiaries include Coastal High School and Atlantic Combined School in Swakopmund as well as Pahye Primary School in Omaruru.