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Thobega to Be Laid to Rest TomorowApr 06, 2009 (Mmegi/The Reporter/All Africa Global Media via COMTEX) -- BDF XI defender, Donald 'Boboza' Thobega will be buried in Ramotswa tomorrow morning. Thobega, who was a sergeant in the army, died last Saturday morning after being hospitalised for close to three weeks following a car accident. The accident occurred near Lobatse when the footballer was travelling from a Splash festival in Molapowabojang. Thobega's two companions in the car were treated for minor injuries and discharged hours after the accident but the player was not that lucky. He has been fighting for his life in hospital till his death on Saturday. Before joining BDF XI, Thobega played for David Bright's crack Mogoditshane Fighters' side, which dominated Botswana football between 1999 and 2002. He formed a solid partnership with Mogogi Gabonamong and Kennedy 'Conty' Sakala at the heart of Fighters' defence. The trio hardly put a foot wrong. When Fighters' financial support from Botswana Defence Force (BDF) was terminated, Thobega crossed over to BDF XI where he once again became a household name. Boboza also played for the national team. Those who have played and worked with Thobega describe him as a true professional who always gave his best. "I am the one who spotted Boboza together with Barney (Marman) and recommended that they sign for Fighters. I coached him for close to 10 years before he moved to BDF XI and I must say that I enjoyed working with him. At some stage, I made him the captain of the team because I could see that he has leadership qualities which I needed," said Bright from Cape Town yesterday. The former Fighters' coach, who is now handling Cape Town Santos said that Thobega was an aggressive defender who did not want to be undermined outside the field. Bright said he never had problems with Boboza and liked the way he treated his mother. "He was quite a responsible boy, which is common with some people. I would like to urge our sports men and women back home, who are role models, to always take care of themselves and guard against being involved in incidents which can cost them their lives. It is a pity today that we have lost a loyal servant of Botswana football," he said. A former teammate at Fighters, Gabonamong, was still trying to come to terms with the loss of the man he played with for a long time. "Boboza used to take people the way they were and also fought for what is best for the players. He had qualities to lead and I enjoyed working with him," said Gabonamong. The Cape Town Santos' captain added that Batswana must accept that Boboza is gone and let him rest in eternal peace. "God has done his will and we must respect that. All of us are going to follow the same route though we do not know the time. Boboza's time has come and we should let him rest," he said. Midfielder, Masego 'Abedi' Ntshingane, Thobega's teammate at Fighters and BDF XI said that Boboza was a hard worker and always went the extra-mile on the pitch. Ntshingane who joined Matebele from Fighters this season said that he enjoyed working with the departed hero at both Fighters and BDF XI. "To show that he had good leadership qualities, he has captained both Fighters and BDF XI," pointed out Ntshingane. Botswana Football Association (BFA) technical director, Losika Keatlholetswe said that the fact that Boboza was involved in the Test-4-Life campaign, which targeted football supporters to test for HIV/AIDS, shows that he was a responsible person. "He wanted to see some change in Botswana football. He always wanted to see change in football and it is sad that he is gone," said Keatlholetswe. |