After a gallant battle, Bra Stan's gun has fallen silent

Mqondisi Dube | Tuesday April 29, 2025 10:26

Tshosane, a soldier on and off the field, was a tactical genius who dared a nation to dream with his enduring troops en-route to the country's first ever Africa Cup of Nations finals appearance. A man who was part of a football revolution engineered at the barracks, Tshosane's coaching career blossomed at Mogoditshane Fighters and BDF XI. He left the army at the rank of Leutanent Colonel. But his lasting impact was felt when he took over the reins at the Zebras, initially as an underwhelming appointment who had to temporarily live under the shadows of one Veselin Jelusic. Under Jelusic, the Zebras had morphed into a brand that held its own against the giants of Africa, marking the start of a long, satisfying process of shedding the tag of Africa's ‘Whipping Boys’. Tshosane took over from Briton, Colwyn Rowe with the Zebras requiring a quick injection of life as interest in the side had waned considerably. Tshosane made his first major statement of intent against Tunisia in July 2010 when he brewed a shocker as the Zebras stunned the fancied North Africans 1-0.

That victory marked the turning point of Tshosane's career as he rallied his troops on an impressive run, which culminated in the country's first ever qualification to the Africa Cup of Nations finals in 2012 in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea. The Zebras had arrived at the grand stage, not via an expensive appointment on the bench, but through a thorough bred son of the soil from Jackalas Number 1. 'Mntanaka mama (my mother's child)' he would say in his flawless Ndebele, each time he addressed me. His humility belied his huge frame, but one day he put his physique and likely, his army training into 'good' use during a friendly match between Kenya and the Zebras at the UB Stadium. After a scuffle between the two benches, I asked Tshosane if he had indeed hit a Kenyan official as it was alleged. He responded: 'Ye, ngimtshayile (yes I beat him) but do not write it that way, you will see how you put it, or you can say there was a scuffle. You are a senior writer and you know how to put it,' he said.

Another moment that stands out is when he called me to give his side of the story when it became evident that the Botswana Football Association (BFA) was on the verge of dismissing him. He used to refer to the BFA committee as 'amadoda lawana (those men)' and you would know he didn't have anything positive to say about the association's leadership. Tshosane told me he was a man under siege but he had no problem with walking, but wanted to get his full pay. On critics that his team played boring defensive football, Tshosane would always retort and say he was more than capable of playing exciting football, but it could result in embarrassing loses, hence his decision to err on the side of caution. Botswana football is certainly poorer without Bra Stan. May His Dear Soul Rest In Peace!