26 Jun 2016

Multitudes of mourners who attended former Zebras player, Kabelo Kgosiang’s funeral in Tlokweng on June 25 heard that the star was one of the players who contributed to development of football.

Speaking on behalf of the football fraternity, former Zebras coach, Major David Bright, said Kgosiang and his generation ignited the interest Batswana had in their national team.

“In the year 2000, the Zebras won a friendly tournament; the King’s Cup in Swaziland, which featured Botswana, Lesotho, Swaziland and Mozambique.  Kgosiang was part of that team I coached, along with Terrence Mophuting, Dipsy Selolwane and Tshepiso ‘Sox’ Molwantwa among others.  When we returned home there was so much hype around the Zebras,” Bright said.

The win, Bright said, generated public interest in the Zebras and that hype continued to surround the Zebras during Jelusic Veselin’s tenure as coach. 

He said Kgosiang was a modest and hard working contributor, who quietly went about his business on and off the field.

In an interview, former Zebras star Masego Nchingane said Kgosiang had an immense influence in the national team dressing room during his tenure in the squad.

“Kabelo was a very disciplined and matured player, he had great influence on other players, we looked up to him for advice.  Even during the later years when he would mostly start from the bench, he was one of the players who was influential in camp,” Nchingane said.

He said this made Kgosiang an important part of generation that transformed Botswana football.

“Having grown up in the football system from junior level we remembered very well how difficult things used to be, when the Zebras were struggling to win games, and the squad played in front of empty stands.,” Nchingane said.

Born on September 10, 1973 and raised at Tlokweng’s Kgosing ward, Kgosiang attended Botsalano Primary School and Matlala JSS in Tlokweng before completing formal schooling at Gaborone Secondary School.

Having completed his national service as a Tirelo Setshaba participant, Kgosiang was employed by the Botswana Prisons Service in 1995, and served for 21 years until his untimely passing.

He was awarded the Botswana Prison Service medal for long service and good conduct in 2014.  Kgosiang played club football for his hometown side Naughty Boys before a long stint with Prisons XI. Ends