04 Mar 2018

Former Ecco City Greens and Zebras prolific striker, Malepa ‘Chippa’ Bolelang is recovering well in hospital after being involved in an accident on February 25.

The accident resulted in the amputation of his right leg.

During his heydays he finished as the league’s top goal scorer in 2005 with 25 goals and won the Mascom premier league in the 2006/7 campaign.

He also played for the national team and at his prime, he was one of the most feared strikers by goalkeepers as he could pack a terrific shot.

At Ecco City Greens, he proved to be one of the most reliable players and turned the Francistown outfit into a formidable force in local football circles.

It was during this time that Ecco became one of the feared premier league teams rivaling both Township Rollers and Mochudi Centre Chiefs.

He also contributed immensely in bringing the league title north of Dibete for the first time.

With Tafic’s performance on a downward spiral, Mamoja Diski, as Ecco City Greens was known by its legion of supporters, carried the flag and turned the Francistown stadium into a slaughter house where many visiting teams fell on their sword.

The Moshopha born 40-year-old met his horrific fate after a car hit a wall against him when he was leaving an entertainment joint in Somerset West, moments after watching the team he served with distinction, Francistown City Greens, play against Great North Tigers in a Debswana First Division North league encounter.

In an interview at Nyangabgwe Referral Hospital where he is admitted on Tuesday (February 28), the former 2007 player of the season was at a loss describing the tragedy that befell him.

He explained that Sunday (February 25) was his birthday and that after the City Greens game he, together with friends, went to an entertainment joint where they played snooker until it was time to leave.

“My friend asked that we leave but I informed him to wait as I had not finished the game. Immediately after finishing the game I went outside to join my friend who was waiting for me by the parking lot. Out of nowhere, a vehicle which had crashed into another car came for me. I tried to avoid it and it missed my left leg. It hit a wall in the verandah of the building, and the wall fell on my right leg which was crashed immediately,” he narrated.

Chippa, as he is affectionately known in football circles, explained that from that moment he realised that his leg was gone even though he was confused by the incident.

He highlighted that he has accepted his fate, and wants to put the accident behind him and move on with his life.

Apart from the pain in his leg, Bolelang said his body was in a good condition.

Furthermore, he said the accident happened at a time when he had retired from active football, and that he used to help the previous City Greens coach with coaching.

The former Zebras star explained that he was overwhelmed by the support that he has received from Batswana and colleagues at work.

He said after recovering he wants to continue being involved in football.

The striker, who had a short stint with Motlakase Power Dynamos in Palapye, said he was taking each day as it came, noting that doctors had informed him that he would be moved to Mahalapye Hospital to begin the process of having an artificial leg.

Chippa also had words of advice for everyone, noting that life had its ups and downs and encouraged anyone who faced hurdles to accept their situation. ENDS