19 Jan 2015

Botswana National Olympic Committee (BNOC) president, Negroes Kgosietsile says Lt Gen. Mompati Merafhe was a sports oriented person who wanted to see tangible results.

Speaking during Lt Gen. Merafhe’s funeral in Serowe on January 17, Kgosietsile said having worked with him for more than a decade, he was glad that they had learnt a lot from him.

He described the man who was called “The General,” as a visionary and strategic leader who commanded respect not only in Botswana but across the universe.

He said he was a hard worker and always wanted results, adding that he respected all those he worked with and demanded positive results whenever they were working on a project.

Kgosietsile said Lt Gen. Merafhe wanted to see sports developing hence being part of the people who built the National Stadium in 1984, which was later on to be used for the celebrations of the 20^th year Independence anniversary in 1986.

He said Lt Gen. Merafhe through his connections and the love he had for sports had collected most funds for the construction from as far as his international allies. He explained that it was through the construction of the National Stadium when the sports fraternity was no longer run from briefcases, but from buildings that he had spearheaded.

He said Botswana sports had since grown and enjoyed the recognition it deserved through Lt Gen. Merafhe’s input, adding that he always wanted to take sport to a higher level. Kgosietsile urged his fellow countrymen in the sport fraternity to continue his legacy.

For his part, the chairperson of Miscellaneous Football Club, Seiphetho Sefhako also thanked ‘The General’ for the role he played in their club and the village of Serowe.

Sefhako said Lt Gen. Merafhe took their team under his wing and supported them as their patron. He said he was also passionate and instrumental in developing Serowe through sport. He said he worked with them diligently and was hands on in their team as he believed in sport. ENDS