How they remember Bra Stan
Larona Makhaiza | Friday May 2, 2025 12:40
Jacob Kelebeng
(Minister of Sports and Arts) “Rre Stanley Thosane is one of the heroes that we ever had in this country. We are here to celebrate his legacy today. I had no close interaction with him but had it as a fan because I was a supporter of his work while he was at the national team. Bra Stan took the responsibility when the country had doubts that a Motswana can take our team to greater heights but he did so and made sure that we qualified for AFCON for the first time in 2012. Tshosane’s legacy will forever live on and not only did he qualify us to AFCON, he introduced us to really great players who fought for the country. May his legacy live on.”
Diphetogo ‘Dipsy’ Selolwane
(Former Zebras player) “We are here to celebrate one individual who really played an incredible role in our lives. To me personally, he helped me achieve a personal goal and that goal was to see myself qualify for AFCON. So Bra Stan will always remain very dear to my heart.
He had his vision, he had his plan but he allowed all of us to be a part of it so even in the team selection we did that with him. One of the things that I got to talk with him about, was building towards the 10 years of qualification. He had wished to slaughter a cow for us and host us at his farm but we never got a chance to do it and he is no more now.”
Ogopotse ‘OG’ Godirwang
(Former BDF XI and Zebras player)“Bra Stan was brave on the field of play; he had no fear at all. He took on defenders and had powerful shots from his playing days. Not only was he a great player, he had enormous love for football. Tshosane was really a naughty person. Whenever we were in camp he would crack jokes and call us names. He called me Majambela comparing me to a player who played with Mamelodi because I had the same physique as the player. That is who Stan was from his playing days.”
Mompati Thuma
(Former Zebras captain)“Bra Stan was really a strict person and a soldier at heart. So whenever we were with the national team he wanted us all to work hard like soldiers and it was hard for players that were not playing for BDF XI. But they knew they had to get the job done with everything in them. So I guess I’m speaking for everyone when I say we are proud that we have worked with Bra Stan and for me from club level up to the national team where we qualified for AFCON. May his soul rest in peace. He made history.”
Iphemele Kgokgothwane
(Former Mogoditshane
Fighters player)“Stan was someone that I really loved as a player because he was a very good player. I loved him as a person too because he was a very humble person and also that he had a different perception of football. He devoted his life to the sport; he devoted his life to football and made a big contribution to the development and growth of football in Botswana. I first had the opportunity to work with him in the early ‘90s and he was a very interesting person. He will forever remain dear in my heart because this is one individual that had a great impact on me.”
Patrick Motsepe
(former Zebras midfielder)“I met Bra Stan back in 2007 when I joined BDF XI and we worked from then up until the national team. This is a man who really raised us all and I am speaking on behalf of most of the players. We are where we are because of his guidance and when he recruited us, he also took us to church with every chance he got. That goes to show the type of impact he had in our lives. Despite it all, he was a funny person. He teased us all and called us names. With that, may he rest in peace.”
Joel Mogorosi
(former Zebras winger)“We are here today to celebrate the life of a hero, Bra Stan! I met him back in 2005 when I was playing for BMC and I remember when I completed school I was set to join BDF XI but I was sent back because I had a tiny body. But I proved him wrong when the season started and he then wanted me but I had moved on from BDF XI. One thing I liked about him, he made a solider out of everyone even if one was not in that profession. May he rest in peace.”