The rise of Selebi-Phikwe’s green machine
Mqondisi Dube | Saturday February 12, 2022 06:00
The demise of the BCL mine in 2016 left a vibrant town of about 50,000 people facing a bleak future. Despite the obvious environmental impact of the mine’s operations, the grass was always greener on the other side of the town. The end of the month marked a massive payday for all associated with the mine.
One of the biggest beneficiaries of a flourishing BCL mine was Nico United, a massive brand within the confines of the town and its hinterlands.
It is a club that symbolised what Selebi-Phikwe was all about - copper and nickel mining. In full flow, the team’s fans would majestically walk into the Selebi-Phikwe Council Stadium (now Sam Sono Stadium), clad in mine overalls, and strikingly, the helmet that protected many underground BCL miners from the everyday perils of their work, deep down in the belly of the earth. It was a sight to behold as other teams from the Botswana Premier League ensemble drove into town for another dashing show of weekend football.
It was a particularly magnificent scene when giants of the local game like Township Rollers, Gaborone United and Extension Gunners rolled into town, with their colourful roadshows on tour.
Nico was not the only team in Selebi-Phikwe, of course, with Satmos (formerly Copper Chiefs) the closest to what Majombolo could offer. But there was something special about Nico and their green outfit. Without any objection, the team could have been renamed Selebi-Phikwe Nico United. The club was an embodiment of the resilience and the hard work of thousands of men and women who woke up every day to face the uncertainties and dangers presented by an unforgiving underground operation like BCL.
But the mine’s safety record, particularly under one Montwedi Mphathi, was particularly impeccable.
By preserving lives and the mine, the existence of Nico United was prolonged.
But dark clouds enveloped Selebi-Phikwe in the summer of 2016 when the government decided to cease BCL mine’s operations against a background of depressed metal prices and high operating costs.
Fears for the future of Nico United and other sports bodies grew. Some sunk immediately and they have never recovered. The likes of Satmos tried to cling on, but the wave was just too overwhelming. Little is heard of the late Sam Sono’s side as they languish in the lower rungs of football.
But Nico has been resilient, defying a litany of challenges presented by the closure of BCL and lately, COVID-19. In fact, in the last two seasons, against odds, Majombolo have thrived. The team came within a whisker of joining the elite boys at the end of the last campaign but were denied by Mogoditshane Fighters in the play-offs.
Like a phoenix, the team has made a brave attempt to rise against shattering odds.
The ‘green side’ of Selebi-Phikwe is rejoicing as with more than a third of the First Division North season played, Nico are looking down upon their opponents atop the 12-team grouping.
‘Baby Jombies’ enjoy a six-point buffer over nearest rivals, Peace Makers after eight games played in the 22-round marathon.