Former women’s national team midfielder, Annah Sechane, will be laid to rest in Gathwane on Saturday, following her recent tragic death in a car accident in Lobatse.

The 25-year-old Township Rollers Ladies player sustained fatal injuries in the crash last Saturday morning and later succumbed to them, plunging the football fraternity into mourning.

In an interview, her aunt, Banyana Gaadingwe, confirmed the passing and paid tribute to the late player.

“We are heartbroken. Annah was still young and we had high hopes for her,” Gaadingwe said, describing Sechane as a well-behaved young woman who loved football and cared deeply for her family. 

“Whenever she came home, she would bring gifts for the little ones,” she said.

Sechane was a seasoned presence in the women’s football architecture. At international level, she earned caps for the Mares on major continental stages, representing Botswana at the 2020 COSAFA Women’s Championship and making the national squad for the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).

Locally, Sechane featured for both Gaborone United and Township Rollers in the women’s league, eventually returning for a second stint with Rollers.

News of her passing has drawn widespread condolences from local clubs, officials and supporters. 

The tragedy adds to a poignant moment for the domestic game, following the country’s recent successful hosting of the CAF Women’s Champions League COSAFA Qualifier in Gaborone.

Sechane leaves behind a distinguished legacy as a player who represented both club and country at the highest levels of African women’s football. ENDS