Personality of the week - Heingo: Namibia’s upcoming cricket star

Hilma Nalupe

Max Heingo is coming up fast as one of Namibia’s promising young cricketers. He debuted for the national cricket team against the Proteas this month and is a regular name in the U/19 national team.

Born in Oshakati and raised in Oshali village in the Ohangwena region by his grandmother, Heingo discovered cricket in grade 3 at !Nara Primary School, when one of the teachers and coaches, Quinton Hauseb, walked into his classroom looking for interested

players. Curious and eager, Heingo and his friends decided to give the sport a try. Though everything felt strange at first, their coach’s patience and encouragement helped generate interest in the game.

“I remember how awkward it felt holding the bat for the first time. But the coach made learning fun and soon, I liked the sport,” he said.

His first coach noticed his potential and encouraged him to continue practicing. That motivation paid off years later when Heingo earned the chance to represent Namibia, a dream come true for the young bowler.

His proudest moment came when Namibia faced South Africa’s Proteas, one of the world’s cricket powerhouses. During that match, Heingo made a mark by dismissing the Proteas captain and opening batter, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, an unforgettable highlight in his rising career. Currently, Heingo is a grade 11 learner at Flamingo Secondary School in Walvis Bay, he balances his studies with training, spending his free time in the gym or playing video games. His dedication hasn’t gone unnoticed; one of the national team coaches once told him that they saw his potential and expected to see him play for the national team one day. That message has only fuelled his determination further.

Heingo draws inspiration from Namibian cricket star Ben Shikongo and internationally, from Kagiso Rabada, whose bowling action many say resembles his own. Before every match, Heingo prepares by watching motivational cricket videos and focusing.

“I’ve learned to never talk about your plans, let people see the results. Stay humble and never make excuses,” he shared. While his favourite format is Test cricket, he enjoys One Day Internationals (ODIs) since Namibia has not yet qualified for Test matches.

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