05 Mar 2017

PITSANE - The late Phenyo Gothaang who was laid to rest on Saturday has been described as a devoted, loving and courageous person.
At a funeral attended by different people from all walks of life, various speakers said the deceased had the quest for revolutionised football.
Gothaang was the chairperson of Lobatse -based football Club, Extension Gunners the position that he attained on December 2015.
Botswana Football Association president, Maclean Letshwiti said the football fraternity had been saddened by the loss of Gothaang.
He said they had lost a ‘great team player’ despite the fact that, they only met for a short period of time.
He said the deceased had left an incredible mark in the local football through his concepts, adding that he was an ambitious person who aimed for success at all times and that was proven by his academic and career achievements considering that he achieved them at tender years.
Letshwiti said the deceased had so much respect for football that he gave his life to it and that was also shown by the spirit of volunteerism he displayed at football functions.
“The man has ran his race and the baton has to be handed over to the next person and continue with the race to reach the finishing line,” he said. Letshwiti implored Extension Gunners management and other relevant stakeholders to follow on his path as he had paved a smooth road ahead of them so that they continued where he had left for the success of their team.
In his message of condolences, MP for Good Hope-Mabule Constituency, Kgosi Lotlaamoreng II said the sudden death of Gothaang was a loss to both his family, Extension Gunners and the football fraternity at large.
He encouraged all to soldier on and continue with his legacy to achieve what he had laid before them to reach their destinations.
A representative from Botswana Premier League board , Kelesitse Gilika  described the deceased as  a “strategist” who would always find advanced ways to do things for the benefit of local  football.
He said he knew him for a short period of time and instantly realised his potential.
Gilika said he was the youngest member of the board but with great brains. His uncle Godiraone Gothaang said the deceased was involved in a car accident and the most painful part was that, they got to learn about his nephew’s passing through social media.
The uncle appealed to all social media users to desist from spreading rumours about people’s deaths before immediate family members were informed.
He said the deceased suffered serious head injuries since the two vehicles were involved in a head-on and it had serious impact on them.
Gothaang appealed to Extension Gunners family together with other football teams and leading organisations to continue where the late had left off to achieve his ambition for building the local football especially Extension Gunners.
Another speaker,  Itani Shaka from Way guard Security where the deceased worked ,described the deceased as the “captain of the ship” and said the fellow employees displayed trust in his leadership.
He said he was able to turn around weakness into opportunities at a snap of a finger.
Extension Gunners deputy chairperson, Hennel Kaisara thanked all other local football chairpersons’ for their support during the dark days for them at Extension Gunners.
He said Gothaang’s dream was to transform Extension Gunners into an internationally recognised brand.
Gothaang was born on January 30 1978 in Lobatse and did his primary school at New look from 1985-1991. In1992-1993 he progressed to Letsopa Community Junior Secondary School and did his senior education at Lobatse Senior Secondary School from 1994-1996 and served Tirelo Setshaba during the year 1997 at Radisele.
He joined Botswana Police Services in 1998 where he served for eight years before tendering a resignation to join Debswana at Orapa, working as a security officer, the post he held for five years before proceeding to join Limkokwing University Botswana in Business and Tourism management for a period of a year.
In 2014 he was employed by Way guard Security as chief executive officer, the post he held until his demise.
The deceased also had MSC in Strategic Management , Baccalaureus in Technology Forensics as well as Post Certificate in Enterprise Risk Management and CCTV advanced surveillance body language course. He enrolled for PhD with  the University of Botswana pursuing Strategic Management.
The deceasedis survived by two sons and grand mother. ENDS