When I arrived in Botswana in 2001, my first port of call was Selebi-Phikwe. I still remember trying hard to adjust to life in the mining town; it was difficult because of the sulphur from the BCL mine. As a sports-loving person, I soon found comfort in watching two of the popular teams in the town, Satmos and Nico United. Satmos was campaigning in the Premier League, then sponsored by KBL through its brand, Castle. My first game at the Selebi-Phikwe Stadium was an encounter between trail-blazing Mogoditshane Fighters against Satmos. It was a thrilling game, which Fighters won 3-0. I was to shift my attention to a First Division game between Nico United and against opponents I can't immediately recall.
Majombolo had in their line-up Norman Gumbo, Ace Odirile, David Mpema, Ntungamili Tshoganetso, Monametsi 'Sunday' Kelebale and a tall clean-shaven defender who was wearing a captain's armband. He was close to the players and through Gumbo, the players and I became acquaintances. Chilisa, who was then a teacher at Phatsimo Community Junior Secondary School (CJSS), and I also became close friends. He was a down-to-earth person who would occasionally meet with other Nico players for a drink after the game.
