23 Nov 2017

Renowned South African sports commentator and broadcaster, Cebo ‘Clement’ Manyaapelo is no more.

Manyaapelo (50) passed away on November 22 in Mafikeng after a long illness.

Many who paid tribute to “CC” as he was affectionately known in the media cycle and in public said his passing on was not a loss to the South Africans only, but to the entire Batswana community in Southern Africa.

A longtime friend and former Botswana Premier League (BPL) chief executive officer, Bennett Mamelodi expressed his grief on the passing away of Manyaapelo.

“He was a friend to me and we have known each other for many years. We had one thing in common; love for football. I am extremely saddened by his death,” said Mamelodi.

Mamelodi explained that Botswana was Manyaapelo’s second home and he contributed a lot to the development of football in Botswana.

At some point, he said Manyaapelo was part of a panel of experts who came to Botswana to conduct a media workshop and he lectured on topic Commentary.

Mamelodi explained further that because of this relationship, it was through Manyaapelo’s efforts that BPL was invited at Motsweding FM to talk about football in Botswana.

He was also invited as the master of ceremony in one of the premier league awards, which Mamelodi said he performed with distinction and love.

Mamelodi said when Manyaapelo was on radio, he always talked about the fixtures in Botswana’s premier league and this gave mileage to the development of football in Botswana

Manyaapelo also had a soft spot for the current BTC premier league log leaders, Township Rollers.

Former Rollers managing director, Somerset Gobuiwang said the relationship with Manyaapelo and Rollers dates back to 2005.

Since then, he said the relationship between Rollers and Manyapelo grew from strength to strength and that Rollers was where it was today because of the contribution Manyaapelo made in marketing the team in South Africa by introducing Roller’s players to South African teams.

Gobuiwang said Rollers players such as Phenyo Mongala, Jomo Matlhaping, Joel Mogorosi and Terrence Mandaza were introduced to South African teams through the efforts of Manyaapelo, who organised meetings with head coaches of the respective teams.

“He made an appointment with George Khunou, the then chairman of Silver Stars, now Platinum Stars to recruit Mongala and Matlhaping,” he said.

He said the death of Manyaapelo was not a great loss to the people of South Africa but also to Rollers community in Botswana.

According to South African media, Manyaapelo was a Setswana linguist of note, who put Setswana language on the map.

At the time of going to press, funeral arrangements were not yet known. ENDS