Born and raised in the sacred garden town of Okahandja, young George ‘Georgie’ Gariseb started playing competitive football for boyhood Nau-Aib outfit Spoilers Football Club, proudly following in the footsteps of his equally talented old man Gustav ‘Boesman’ Gariseb.
An energetic young man of decent upbringing, Gariseb started his elementary education at the local institution for Bantus, Aurora Primary School, before moving north-westwards to further his academic aspirations at Cornelius Goreseb High School (Welwitschias) in Khorixas. He was a regular starter for the school’s senior team.
His game underwent a dramatic turn when he arrived at Stars in 1977. Interestingly, Gariseb’s entrance on the big stage coincided with the inevitable introduction of mixed-race football in apartheid South West Africa (SWA-Namibia) in 1977.
Gariseb was ushered aboard to succeed ageing club stalwart Mike Pack and certainly lived up to expectations. He effortlessly nailed his spot in the Reds’ starting eleven in the process of making the number 2 jersey his private property.
Under the shrewd stewardship of co-coaches Kella Kauta and German import Dieter Widmann, the energetic multi-talented athlete was cleverly transformed from a raw hard-tackling defender to a deadly overlapping fullback.
Fitted with a massive engine, his trademark forays instilled fear in the opposition, wrecking the nerves of back peddling defenders.
The bearded fullback made it his sole province to constantly join up with the firing line whenever Stars went on the attack, supplying telling crosses to the forwards to finish off. He won the double in only his debut season with ‘Starlile’ when the red-hot Stars clinched the coveted national league title in addition to the Mainstay Cup. Stars defeated cross-town rivals Ramblers in both finals (4-3 and 2-0).
Admittedly, the much-adored Gariseb formed the spine of the Reds solid rearguard alongside football playing centre-back William Rwida, Kierie Tjituaiza, Garrincha Katire, and Merino Kandonga, ably assisted by bulky midfield kingpin Kaika Kuzee, maestro Oscar Mengo, and fresh Albert Tjihero, navigate the fort in the middle of the park.
Some of his celebrated teammates in the unplayable Reds golden generation were deadly attackers Ben Kauejao, and Ace Tjirera, devastating wingers Marques Kamuserandu, and Pushkin Kuhanga. Gariseb’s impressive resume includes unsurpassed record tally of five Mainstay Cup gold medals (1977/80/81/84/86), twice national league title champions (1977/90), Easter Weekend Cup (Tsumeb – 1978), Matador Pokal winner on home turf (Okahandja – 1978), Central Football Association (CFA) most valuable player (1982), NSSL Cup gold medalist (1986), Metropolitan Champion of Champs Cup (1992), Castle Classic Cup (1992), Top-8 Cup (1994), in addition to dozens of credible accolades accrued from knockout cup tournaments across the country certainly no mean feat.
A one-club man, Gariseb courageously stood firm when his prominent homeboys who brought him to Stars, shockingly parted ways with Stars after forming Liverpool FC in their hometown of Okahandja and sought to get him aboard. However, the uncompromising stubborn fullback would have none of that and dug his heels in the sand, staying put.
He went on to oversee several generations ushering new recruits into the system until way into the sunset of his playing career. A gold medalist with the South West Africa (SWA) Impala Cup team in 1986, Gariseb proudly represented his motherland in the prestigious South African Inter-Provincial Currie Cup on few occasions.
Getting a bit long in the tooth and niggling injuries starting to constantly interfere with his usual spotless physical condition, the always fit as a fiddle defender was obligated to throw in the towel. Nonetheless, unlike many of his peers, the tireless overlapping fullback did not disappear from the game. He turned his hand in mentoring upcoming youngsters at his beloved ‘Starlile’.
A jack of all trades, Gariseb was a mean amateur golfer who won few high-profile titles on the greens including the Gobabis sages and Okahandja sages on home turf. His unmatched affection towards golf started whilst a ‘snot neus laaitie’ in his native town Okahandja doubling up as caddy for affluent white golfers.
He learned the finer points of the game and took it upon himself to take white ‘Pikininis’ through the ropes on how to swing the clubs. Off the sport fields, Gariseb exceled in almost everything he laid his hands on. Among a hordes of his recreational hobbies were rifle hunting, motor racing, farming, and fitness through road running.
A great jolly fellow to be around with, the humorous ‘Georgie’ always hyped up the atmosphere in the Reds’ close knit dressing room with his trademark jokes. He never compromised on his mother tongue, always addressing those around him in his native Khoe-khoegowab vernacular even when communicating with ‘Larneys’ or Coloured folks, that was Bro George for you.
Popularly known for his uncompromising stubbornness and thick skull, Gariseb, had a golden heart and never hesitated to put his tiny body on the line in defence of his beloved ‘Starlile’, on and off the field.
A true club legend, Gariseb was not only massively loved by the ‘Red Army’, but the brother was also adored and well respected. His often-arrogant attitude made him the perfect fit for a complete athlete, will be solely missed. May his soul rest in ancestral power.