05 Sep 2021

The death of Black Rangers coach Duncan ‘Tross’ Tshegofatso has been described as a loss to the football fraternity.

Tross, who died on Thursday, would be remembered for his dedication as a technical expert who contributed to football development.

In an interview on Friday, Tsabong Regional Football Association chairperson, Keleeme Bahakgametse, said Tross was a certified football instructor, who was generous with sharing his skills and talent to transform the game.

He said when Tross joined Tsabong region in 2018, he was recruited as head coach for Black Rangers where he transformed the team’s style of play.

“He refined players and constantly perfected their game plan. By then Black Rangers was in the first division and he helped them to survive,” he said.

Bahakgametse said Tross was instrumental to success of both coaches and players since he trained them how to play professional football.

“Majority of football coaches in the district do not have qualifications so they learnt a lot from him.

He was one of the few coaches in Botswana who did elite coaching A-Lessons training,” he said.

He said Tross would also be remembered for developing the technical aspect of football where he advocated for the training of coaches, adding that he was often consulted and helped to run preliminary coaching courses regionally.

Tross was also a Science teacher at Tsabong Unified Senior Secondary School.

For his part, Black Rangers team manager, Tebogo Mmila, said Tross was a shrewd game-changer who was previously enaged by Notwane as an assistant coach and Nico United.

Mmila said ever since the establishment of Black Rangers in 1985, the club had never achieved what it did during the period when Tross was head coach.

“We started winning under him and we played quality football. He made so much difference as he was able to sustain us in the first division.

He was an active coach who was time conscious and very strict with time,” he said.

He said before joining the team in 2018, there were challenges which he addressed by ensuring role clarity which led to an improved play at Black Rangers.

As a tribute to Tross,  Botswana Football Association noted that Tross was a CAF instructor who covered CAF B, C and D License courses for BFA.

The association credited him for his dedication that ensured that players were successful both on the field and in life.

Those who had a stint with him also showered him with tributes on Tsabong Dailynews Facebook page.

A player, Tyson Bimbo said, ‘rest in peace my coach, you will always be remembered.

He used to say, ‘Tyson laziness is a disease moshoman, allow me to build you moshomane, o direle bana phaleche’.

Another player, Emzothi Robino shared, ‘rest in peace our legend. You did your job, my former football coach.’

Motlotlegi Mothelesi remembered him as a great man full of laughter, but strict on the field.

Issa Sremmurd; ‘He would say mshianyana tlogela go tshameka ka talent, work hard nfana I see you going far.

O ne a rile o batla go nkisa ko team e nngwe ko premier league but he never told me gore which team ....may his soul rest in peace. Ends