Looking at the great job done, ‘Gamah’ has done on the football pitch, it will be remiss not to refer to him as a local legend. As he was given the guard of honour during Saturday’s game between Police XI and Gaborone United, football gave a standing ovation to a loyal son of the game. Pius handed over the captaincy to teammate, Tapiwa ‘Navara’ Gadibolae. ‘Gamah’ made his debut in 2002 when his side faced TAFIC at the Francistown Council Stadium. He came on a fresh-faced 17-year-old teenager. Pius told Mmegi Sport this week that he still vividly remembers his debut match and acknowledges the long journey that he has travelled in football since then. “It has always been Police XI as much as I wanted to play elsewhere. Throughout my time with Police XI, there was nothing that pushed me to leave the team for any other team locally,” Pius said.
He weighed how football business was conducted in other clubs and felt that it was best to stay at Police XI. “I made a firm decision that I am okay where I am at. By then it was about job security, being what I all wanted, and (at the same time) to play football. If I did not turn into a professional, I needed something that will back me up, when my playing days are over, hence (the decision to) stick with Police XI,” Pius revealed. As he spent most of his life at Police XI and served the club with diligence, Pius indicated the team treated him well since day one, which is the reason why he decided to remain loyal. Additionally, the long journey was driven by his desire to succeed. “When I want to do something, I do it. I make sure I do it with determination and discipline because at the end of the day, my reputation counts,” Pius said. The man from Tati Siding said he gained invaluable experience playing for junior national teams under the late David Bright. His football career started when he was a pupil at Morama Junior Secondary in Jwaneng and then blossomed at Moeding College. It was at Morama where he got the nickname ‘Gamah’. “Eish, it was one guy at Morama Junior School who was my classmate. He was teasing me with the name and it has stuck with me,” he recalls. Pius remembers Police XI’s relegation to the fourth division in 2012 as one of the most difficult moments. The club was demoted for failure to pay affiliation fees to the Botswana Football Association (BFA). Despite the low moment, Police XI hung on and merged with Wonder Sporting to plot a return to the Premier League. “At Wonder Sporting, I found other captains for that season, the likes of Duncan Kgopolelo,” he said.
