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Eliphas Shivute
Eliphas "Safile" Shivute (born 27 September 1974) is a Namibian retired international footballer. 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 careerBorn 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] MotherwellHe 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 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 careerShivute 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 styleNamibia 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 lifeAfter retiring as a player, he became a businessman with interests in the fishing and construction industries.[7] HonoursNamibia
Individual
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