27 Jan 2021

The demise of one of the most decorated coaches, Major David Bright, has left several hearts bleeding.

Perhaps looking at the legacy Bright left behind, his life could better be summarised through the words of an American author and orator, Albert Pike, ‘what we have done for ourselves alone dies with us, but what we have done for others and the world remains and is immortal.’ 

Major Bright’s deeds would remain immortal.

Some football players explained how they were touched by the former national team and Under 23 coach both professionally and personally.  

They described him as a strict and disciplined hard worker,  who was also a father figure to them. 

One of the country’s longest-serving goalkeepers, Noah Maposa, said he started working with ‘Madala’, as they fondly called him, during his (Maposa) youthful years. 

“He so believed in me. I remember when we were still at the national U-23, I played second fiddle to Itumeleng Selapa when we were still coached by the late Banks Panene. When Panene passed on, Bright was brought in and he immediately indicated to the team that I would take the number one shirt. He trusted me so much and I equally believed in him,” he said. 

Maposa said Bright’s confidence in him earned him the captain badge when they later met at Gaborone United. This, he said, opened doors for him to ply his trade in South Arica. 

After being engaged by Bay United as a coach, Maposa said Maj. Bright immediately informed management that he wanted him (Maposa) brought in. 

“When I got to Bay United, I trained for just about 15 minutes and I was immediately ushered into the team office where my contract was already prepared,” he said. Were it not for Madala, Maposa might not have played in South Africa. 

Known as a no-nonsense gaffer, Maposa said such belief about Bright was misplaced. 

He said the former army man was strict when it came to his job and wanted those he worked with to work hard. 

Maposa, who is currently training with Township Rollers, said before his passing, Bright had indicated an interest in taking him to Sowa Flamingoes where he was coaching at the time of his death. 

Maposa said apart from being his coach, Bright was also a father figure. 

“At the moment I can’t even bear to look at his picture. I am currently off from social media because news about him is all over. He really left a big gap in my heart and that of the whole nation. He has no replacement,” he said, adding that the last time they talked was Sunday. 

“He told me then that he would soon leave the hospital and never once did I think he meant leaving in that state,” he said. 

Another player who attested to Bright’s father figure character is Gaborone United midfielder and skipper, Alphonse Modisaotsile. The Dukwi native indicated that Bright was so open to the players that they were even free to seek counsel from him on private matters. 

“There was no evidence of any age gap between us and him really, and at training, he used to fondly call us names like Zombie. We called him back and the name somehow stuck on him,” he recalled. 

Modisaotsile said Bright was not aggressive as many believed. “O ne a rata go tshosetsa, but deep down he was a really adorable person,” he said. 

Modisaotsile said the last time he talked to Bright was on January 2 when he wished him a belated birthday. 

“He called me a day after my birthday and told me that he would pass by to see me at Dukwi on his way to work at Sowa.Unfortunately, we could not meet because it was raining on that day,” he said. 

One of the players that worked with Bright for most of his playing career is Mogogi ‘Gino’ Gabonamong. 

The Mmutlane native indicated that even though Bright was demanding, he never really crossed paths with him because he knew how to avoid that. 

“I started working with him when I was 15-years-old and over the years, I learnt how to avoid his wrath. All I did was work hard so he would have nothing to reprimand me for,” he said 

Gabonamong said what most people did not know about Bright was that even though he could be short-tempered at times, most of the time he was jolly. 

“When I was still at junior school and playing for Mogoditshane Fighters, he would always pick me for training and drop me afterwards. Before he dropped me he would often spoil me with a hot loaf of bread and two litres of coke. We would drink together straight from the bottle and feast on the unsliced loaf,” he recalled the funny moments. 

Gabonamong said even though death could come anytime, he felt that it was a bit early for The Major. 

He said him and a few players who were thinking of going onto coaching were looking forward to using Bright’s guidance. BOPA