Last season for Pius
Benjamin Button is a fictional short story that later became a major motion picture about a man who ages in reverse, from senescence to infancy, written by F. Scott Fitzgerald.
The fictional story is therefore a great metaphor for the legendary career of one Betsho Pius. With almost over two decades of serving in the top tier of Botswana football, the midfield orchestra, Betsho ‘Gama’ Pius, still looks as young as the day he first crossed the white line onto to the pitch, with his ever green performance.
Aging like the proverbial fine wine, the evergreen midfielder continues to deliver the goods for Police XI and has so far featured in all 14 games of the league, displaying incredible levels of fitness and endurance.
Gama burst onto the senior stage at Police XI in 2002, at the age of 17, when he marched into a packed Francistown Council Stadium against Tafic FC, and is still going strong at 38 years of age.
“It was in 2002, I was only 17. It is still fresh in my memory; we were trailing 1 nil against Tafic on that day, during second half, the coach told me, ‘I am putting you in, go and enjoy yourself'. It was packed, back then people loved football.
“The following week we faced Extension Gunners in Lobatse, I started the match and it was a surreal moment to see Tumie Duiker from a close range. I was a fan he was one of the players I idolized, on the day I just wanted to show him my capabilities and we won that game 2 nil and I was very happy. Mogogi Gabonamong however remain the toughest opponent I’ve ever faced, coming up against him was never easy. I didn’t want to get closer to him at any moment.'
Oris Radipotsane, who at the time was running a development side of Jwaneng Comets, which later merged with Blue Diamonds to form the current Jwaneng Galaxy, discovered Pius.
The then Police XI coach, Sthandwa Mogwadi did not waste time but signed the young midfielder, after eyeing him at the National Under 20 team, where the former was doubling up as Assistant Coach to China Mading.. “I was just a form five student at Moeding, and not registered at the time. I was just a young boy playing in the development side of Comets, and Sthandwa recruited me, engaged my parents and I joined Police XI,' he remembers.
Three years later after making his debut, he won the inaugural Mascom Premier League in 2005/2006 with the Jungle Kings, a moment that tops the list of his achievements at the club.
The late Oliver Pikati, Oteng ‘Limkokwing’ Moalosi, Jackson Legodi, Tebogo Chuma, Ditiro Lebang, were some of the great team mates of Gama.
“That period is the best of my memories. We finished as runners up, back to back with being champions,” he said.
Injuries are part of the, longevity of some players in football has been shortened by injuries, fortunately for the silky midfielder, the longest he has been on the sidelines is only four (4) months.
“I was devastated when I suffered a knee injury, I was still young at the time but also fortunate that Daniel Chico Nare was there for me. He found me a 'good doctor' [laughs] and my recovery was pretty much rapid,” he said.
“Another heartbreaking moment was when the team was liquidated after the club failed to pay mandatory affiliation fee to Botswana Football Association in 2012, teams came calling for our best players but we remained together and swiftly joined first division, Wonder Sporting which got promoted back into the premier league,” he added.
He reveals that hard-work and dedication are key factors for his longevity in football, highlighting that, Portugal superstar, Cristiano Ronaldo inspires him in many ways.
“There was a point when I nearly signed for Free State Stars, we were playing a pre-season tournament in Lesotho and they were very interested in my services; particularly their head coach, Roy Barreto who unfortunately left before I signed so I refused to put pen to paper. Locally, Somerset of Township Rollers tried several times, as well as Gaborone United tried but I just wanted to complete my studies and get a better position at Police because they had also made improved offers,” the veteran midfielder told Sun Sport.
At 40 years, last year, eccentric Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic told media reports that he wants to play football until 'someone better' than him comes along.
According Gama, he could have retired three (3) seasons ago but the club management keep begging him to play for one more season, in fact, in all three previous occasions, he was told to bring someone better than him.
“I could have retired three seasons ago, the team wasn’t doing well and the management felt that my contributions were needed—they even mandated me to find my own replacement and I struggled to find one.
This season I’ve put it in writing that I am retiring come end of the season, if I keep acceding to their requests I’ll not retire any time soon. They have also responded, in writing, agreeing that this is my last season. I am going to miss football, but this is a step that has to be taken; it is time to move on. I’ll continue to serve the team in other areas,” he stated.
With the club looking to restructure its operations, the veteran stalwart has been identified as a perfect candidate to assume the role of a team manager.
The experienced midfield king-pin recently acquired his BFA C coaching badges which adds to his Diploma in Sport Management.