01 May 2017

Departed Township Rollers player, Gofaone Tiro, who tragically passed away on Friday after collapsing during training will be laid to rest this coming Saturday at his home village of Gulubane in the North East.

On Friday morning (March 28), Tiro collapsed during training with his teammates in Tlokweng, and was rushed to hospital, only to be certified dead upon arrival.  The gifted playmaker’s passing took the local football fraternity by shock, as he had not been ill.

Rollers public relations officer (PRO), Phepheretlhe Pheto confirmed to BOPA that Tiro will be laid to rest on Saturday May 6 in Gulubane.

“Services are being held in Gaborone at Tiro’s uncle’s house in Block 9, house number 25932.  On Wednesday May 3, the family’s services will move to Gulubane, while Rollers will hold a major memorial service for Tiro in Gaborone on Thursday May 4,” Pheto said.

He added that the venue for the memorial service would be communicated during the week.

Pheto said Tiro’s passing had shocked his teammates, leading to Rollers organizing counselors and psychologists to a session with the club’s players, which lasted about five hours on Sunday.

“The players were filled with grief, and over Friday and Saturday, they were clearly distraught.  The session with the counselors allowed them to open up,” Pheto said.

Rollers match against Green Lovers, scheduled for Sunday April 30, as well as  Saturday May 6' s scheduled match against Nico United have both been postponed to allow the club to mourn and attend to the player’s funeral.

The midweek encounter between Rollers and BDF XI will take place as scheduled.

Born on January 21, 1991 in Francistown, Tiro comes from a family that hails from the small village of Gulubane in the North East district.

Raised in New Naledi in Gaborone, Tiro played as a schoolboy for the Ithuteng Primary, Bokamoso Junior Secondary and Naledi Senior Secondary school teams as well as Ian Littleton’s Chiefs Botswana development side.

Sexton Kowa and George Mogopodi at Uniao Flamengo Desportos further developed Tiro before he made his senior football debut for Gabane based Flamengo Santos.

He was a youngster when Santos experienced a glorious era under Clever Hunda, as the club won the Coca Cola Cup in 2009 and played in the 2010 CAF Confederations Cup; Tiro was a teenager on the sidelines, as teammate and childhood friends Mogakolodi ‘Tsotso’ Ngele hogged the limelight.

Tiro only became a regular in the side later, and grabbed the attention of the then Rollers managing director Somerset Gobuiwang, who recruited Tiro to Popa in 2013.

He became a fan favourite as, together with fellow youngsters Motsholetsi Sikele and Kobamelo ‘Swere’ Kebaikanye, he helped power Rollers to the 2013-14 league title.

The following seasons saw Rollers sign a galaxy of stars, which pushed Tiro, Sikele and Kebaikanye to the fringes of the squad. 

But Tiro remained a hard worker within the Blues camp, always giving his best whenever given an opportunity to play.  Known as ‘Sbida’  a childhood nickname from New Naledi, or ‘President’ a nickname he derived from Kowa at Flamengo, Tiro was popular with fans.

Having just turned 26 in January, a lot was still expected from Tiro, but his passing has robbed the local game of a major talent. ENDS