'Diabate' stamps authority in debut season
Koketso Kgoboge | Friday August 21, 2020 14:01
The season saw the remarkable rise of a workhorse, who stood out due to his trademark Afro hairstyle and lanky stature in the middle of the park.
His side was lucky to escape relegation when the season was called off, with the standings at the time of the stoppage used to determine the final log.
Players have remained idle for nearly four months, and the soft-spoken Diabate who expresses himself better in the field of play, is eager to get back to the football life.
“This is the longest spell I have stayed without playing football and it is quite odd to live without the usual schedule. It has been difficult, and sometimes there is absolutely nothing to do at home,” he said.
“I have lost a lot physically and mentally, and I can’t wait to play again. I am worried because we are fighting invincible enemy and we don’t know when things would normalise. It’s a bad period for everyone.”
Diabate was undoubtedly amongst the outstanding players of the past season with the impeccable performances he displayed. His premiership career, however, did not take off as he had expected.
He was hit with a suspension in the first few games at the beginning of the season, but redeemed himself on return and became a key figure for Wanderers.
The defensive midfielder bagged four goals and made four assists in the league. He was a man of the match in the Orange FA Cup when Wanderers were knocked out through a penalty shootout against Notwane.
“Premiership has been tough with the schedule, the transformation from hard ground to lawns and travelling a lot. I believe we have a competitive team, but we struggled a bit to adjust to the demands of the league,” Diabate reckoned.
The player has made a statement and caught the attention of some clubs. Mmegi Sport is reliably informed that amongst some of the clubs that took notice are Jwaneng Galaxy, Gaborone United and Prisons XI.
“I am not aware of any interests thus far, but football is a short career, and it would be wise to weigh options if they come. At the moment, I am a Morupule (Wanderers) player, and I will remain focused on our plans,” he said when quizzed about the offers.
Diabate is a self-acquired name he adopted after watching the lanky Mali player, Cheick Diabate play against Zebras.
His teammates at his boyhood club, Grenada Wanderers of Selebi-Phikwe easily acquainted with the name.
The former defender turned defensive midfielder has eyes on donning the Zebras jersey.
“I have achieved one of my dreams of playing in the premiership. Next, I want to play for Zebras, and maybe by any chance, even go outside the country. I work hard at it.”
The 27-year-old, also known to his legion of fans as Studio-88, the nickname he was given by his Morupule Wanderers supporters after donning the number 88 jersey, started football in the streets of Mahalapye.
He played for the primary school team while a Standard Five pupil. For his lanky stature, teachers forced him into playing volleyball at Mahalapye Junior Secondary.
Diabate found his escape to his chosen sport when he transferred to Phatsimo Junior Secondary School in Selebi-Phikwe.
In his second year at junior secondary, he caught the eye of Grenada, a second division side. He played for Grenada until his first year at Selebi-Phikwe Senior School.
He switched from Grenada to First Division outfit, Real Movers in 2015. During his stay at Movers, he had tried his luck at Nico United, Satmos and Miscellaneous but was less fortunate.
“I felt I could do well in the premiership, and I had people that were backing me to try. It didn’t go well, but it encouraged me to put extra effort into the game.”
While preparing for the third campaign in the First Division, Movers played a four-team pre-season tournament that included David Bright’s Morupule Wanderers.
He scored four goals against a Wanderers side then preparing for their debut First Division campaign.
Before the season could start, Wanderers came calling, and he joined. He said apart from a better offer on the table, the club had a promising road map to the Premiership league.
“It was quite interesting, and with (David) Bright at the helm, it was also believable. I saw the challenge as my ticket to the premiership and grabbed it. With God, it turned out I had made a good decision.”
The father of one said he learnt the mistake they made as players was to focus entirely on football and ignore life outside the game. He said the current situation with the pandemic was a wake-up call.
“(Local) Football as it is right now can’t sustain anyone for long. I am trying to get some small businesses going in the meantime that would help me outside football. COVID-19 has reminded us there are real-life struggles out there that we ignored,” he said.
FACT FILE
Full names: Comfort Dikupa
Nicknames: Diabarte, Studio-88
Birthdate: 27 June 1992
Sport: Football
Birthplace: Mahalapye
Favourite Player: Luis Suarez
Favourite Meal: Beef and samp