Eliphas Shivute

Eliphas "Safile" Shivute (born 27 September 1974) is a Namibian retired international footballer.

Eliphas Shivute
Personal information
Full name Eliphas Kambuta Shivute
Date of birth (1974-09-27) September 27, 1974
Place of birth Olukonda, South-West Africa
Height 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Position(s) Forward
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1989–1990 Blue Waters
1990–1991 Eleven Arrows
1996 Schwarz-Weiß Düren
1997 Alemannia Aachen 0 (0)
1997–1999 Motherwell 24 (3)
1999–2001 Dalian Wanda FC 24 (5)
2000 → Eleven Arrows (loan)
2001 → Shenzhen Ping'an Kejian (loan) 17 (4)
2001–2002 Čukarički 2 (0)
International career
1992–2001 Namibia 49 (9)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

He retired from football due to a knee injury in 2002 after a career spent in Chinese and European football, as well as domestically. Shivute became the first Namibian to play for a top-level side in Europe, and also, is the man who scored the first international goal for the Brave Warriors.[1]

Club career

Born in Olukonda, Shivute grew up in Kuisebmond, Walvis Bay[2] and, affectionately known as Safile (Elifas spelled backwards), started playing in 1989 for local side Blue Waters, and later Eleven Arrows[1] He then played for German Fifth Division Schwarz-Weiß Düren in 1996, a non-professional side for which he scored over 13 goals in a short spell.[1] When he scored a hat trick for Düren in one of the league matches that the Alemannia Aachen scouts spotted him and immediately entered into negotiations for a contract. This negotiations ended into Safile signing a one-year-contract with Third Division Aachen.[1] Then he had several trials in Scotland, according to the Daily Record Staff, Safile has had trials with Dundee United and Hearts earlier, but Shivute decided to sign for Motherwell[1]

Motherwell

He scored twice in his trial match for and impressed Motherwell manager Alex McLeish, which Shivute admired because as youngster he followed English and Scottish football through TV and books.[1] His first full match debut in the Scottish Premier League match in a one-all draw against league leaders Hibernians earned him the “Player of the Match” award. Safile had been playing more as a schemer-striker, drifting in and around the box.[1]

He played with Motherwell until 1999 when he moved to China signing with Jia-A League club Dalian Wanda FC[1] in the costliest signing ever by then, £350,000. After one season in 2000 he shortly returned to Namibia playing for half season for his former club Eleven Arrows[3] before moving to another Chinese top league club Shenzhen Ping'an Kejian where he will played on loan until December 2001.[1] That winter he returned to Europe having an 8-months spell with Serbian club FK Čukarički playing in the First League of FR Yugoslavia, just before retiring.[4] Later he played a major role in the transfer of Namibian Rudolph Bester to that club.[1] He became the agent of Bester in 2008.[1]

In 2006, he became assistant manager of Namibian Second Division club Invincible FC.[1]

International career

Shivute has been part of the national team since 1992 having earned 49[1] caps and scored 9 times.[5] With Namibia he was runner-up at 1997 and 1999 COSAFA Cup.[1] He also represented Namibia at the 1998 African Cup of Nations[6] where he scored two goals[7] in a 3-4 loss to Ivory Coast. He made his debut for the Brave Warriors in an October 1992 World Cup qualification match against Madagascar[2] and he totalled 9 goals[8] in 49 games for them.

Playing style

Namibia Today Sport describe him as striker with much improvisation and audacity, a great finisher, and with flair, speed, and shooting power in both foot and he was a good header.[1]

Personal life

Shivute abandoned his education and the prospect of a good job in the mining industry to follow his dream of becoming professional footballer.[1]

Born in Olukonda, Shivute married Justine in 2003 and is a father of four children, two daughters and two sons. The eldest daughter is Monica, followed by Kwashi, Anastasia and Andrew.[1] After retiring as a player, he became a businessman with interests in the fishing and construction industries.[7]

Honours

Namibia

Individual

  • Namibian Sportsman of the Year: 1997 (award attributed by Namibia National Sport Council)[1]

References
  1. "Safile, an absolutely phenomenal player" at Namibia Today Sport, 11–17 December 2009, retrieved 27-10-2018
  2. Kambaekwa, Carlos (20 March 2020). "In conversation with Warriors legend Eliphas Kambuta 'Safile' Shivute". New Era.
  3. Shivute Back to Play for Arrows in League at AllAfrica.com.
  4. "Eliphas Shivute". National-Football-Teams.com.
  5. Eliphas Shivute profile Archived 2011-08-10 at the Wayback Machine at Motherwell official website.
  6. Courtney, Barrie (5 June 2005). "African Nations Cup 1998 - Final Tournament Details". RSSSF. Retrieved 24 September 2023.
  7. Angula, Conrad (13 February 2014). "CLASS OF 1998: WHERE ARE THEY NOW?". The Namibian Sun. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
  8. Namibia International Matches - RSSSF
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