It never rains but pours for Namibian athletes, footballers in particular. Just as the usually jovial ‘Baainaars’, were slowly recovering from licking their wounds inflicted by the shock death of one of the most colourful footies from that neck of the woods, one Zacharias ‘Bob’ Seibeb, another tragedy has struck the ‘happy-jolly’ non-tribal community of the coastal harbor town, Walvis-Bay.
The sudden death of former Battle Boys, Super Stars, Namib Woestyn, and Eleven Arrows Football Clubs attacking midfielder Engelhard ‘Bossie’ Gariseb, aged 58, has sent shockwaves among sport followers. The well liked easy-going popular socialite mysteriously took a bow from the game of life after a devastating diabetic attack that fired his sugar levels way below normality.
While the football industry in the Land of the Brave (Namibia) is riding the crest of a continental wave of growth driven by the Brave Warriors surge on the Fifa rankings, the country is also feeling the heat with a worrisome number of former players taking a bow from the game of life at an alarming pace.
Gariseb’s unexpected shock departure follows shorty on the heels of football greats that have gone the way of all flesh in recent weeks, in the following sequence: veteran attacker Theodore ‘Ou /Hurob’ Zimmer-Goreseb, lethal sharpshooter Jackson Meroro, Pirates (Dolam) strongman Erich ‘Bomber’ Hanstein, Ronnie Shannon (Atlantis), Cuca Tops’ inspirational skipper Kashikola Shashi, and former Hungry Lions versatile footie Abia Uaire ‘Moloi’ Korupanda. May their souls rest in ancestral power collectively
A product of the revered Augustineum Secondary School, Gariseb started playing competitive football in organised structures with youthful Nau-Aib outfit Battle Boys Football Club in the garden town of Okahandja after leaving school.
The nimble footed attacking midfielder was your typical modern-day box-to-box midfield general who was also comfortable playing as a false number nine or inside left number 10. His next stop was the newly formed Kuisebmund youthful outfit Super Stars before he jumped ship to find refuge with boyhood team Namib Woestyn in his native Walvis-Bay where he pulled the strings in the middle of the park, alongside the equally gifted Duban ‘Pule’ Benson.
However, it was not long before Kuisebmund giants Eleven Arrows took note of his amazing football prowess and came knocking on the door for his precious signature. Gariseb needed no second invitation and jumped at the opportunity to test his talent at the highest level.
He formed the spine of the maroon and gold strip side alongside the extremely skillful South African import Elvis Sheya Mweelasi, Julius ‘Sono’ Shivute, and Josephat Gehnny ‘Om Tot’ Emvula.
Comfortably blessed with a brilliant first touch and amazing eye for a killer pass when least expected, ‘Bossie’ endeared himself to the hearts of the Arrows maroon army of supporters. The light skinned attacker also packed a powerful shot with his trusted right boot and was comfortable weighing in with vital match winning goals whenever the situation demanded.
He went on to enjoy success with the maroon and gold strip outfit, winning the Eleven Arrows Cup, Easter Tourney, and was twice runner-up in the Metropolitan and Easter Cup against Orlando Pirates and Tigers respectively.
Some of his celebrated teammates were Nalili Kawia, Patrick Isaacs, Bob Seibeb, Duban Benson and the late Samson Toivo Uirab. ‘Bossie’ was well liked by many and will be solely missed by those he had rubbed shoulders and mingled with on the playing field and in social circles.
Off the pitch, a jolly good fellow ‘Bossie’ was well liked and very popular among his peers. An elegant dresser with a good taste for branded attires, the brother was also in the habit of showing off his dancing moves, freely entertaining curious onlookers at street corners. He was spotted entertaining mourners in high voltage at his late close friend Zacharias ‘Bob’ Seibeb’s burial, stylishly mimicking his departed buddy’s trademark dancing moves much to the delight of the grieving mourners-cum-appreciative-comrades.
One of the stars who played with ‘Bossie’ at Super Stars, Namib Woestyn, and Eleven Arrows, Duban ‘Pule’ Benson, is well placed to describe the departed dribbling wizard’s football virtuosity.
“My broer ‘Bossie’ was a very talented baller with amazing dribbling skills, quick off the mark, great technique, phenomenal ball control and could shoot from any range. Without a shadow of doubt, ‘Bossie’ was a quality player and could have easily walked into the national team had it not been for sickening internal football politics punctuated by the usual favouritism that robbed many players the opportunity to represent our motherland internationally,’’ said the tearful and dejected Benson.
‘Bossie’ has also represented his motherland at provincial youth level before Namibia gained long awaited independence from apartheid South Africa in 1990. Upon retirement from playing competitive football, the former Arrows playmaker turned his hand in to refereeing and easily counted among the finest budding match officials from that neck of the woods.
He is among a quintet of highly gifted prominent squad members from Arrows golden generation that have exited the planet prematurely following the shocking departures of lanky striker Immanuel Munjanda ‘Koos’ Muaine, Nicanor ‘Billy’ Tuahepa, Ernest Naliki ‘Juluka’ Kham, and Jasehn ‘Khumalo’ Petrus, in recent years.