ECCO�s co-founder Sebina passes on
Koketso Kgoboge | Friday February 12, 2016 12:00
“James was admitted at Ngangabwe Hospital on New Year’s day after he fell ill during the holidays when he was with his family. Later, he was transferred to Bokamoso Private Hospital where he had a successful operation and stayed for sometime until he was transferred to Princess Marina Hospital where he spent three days before he passed on last Friday,” she said. “He was gentle and very friendly.”
ECCO’s team manager, Mothibi Latlhang described Sebina as the strength of ECCO. He said Sebina was instrumental in his football career and inspired him in management.
“We have lost an elder who we relied on. He was a pillar of our team and the person we would run to when things don’t go right and he was always open to us when we called,” Latlhang said.
“I met him in Maun and ever since, we played together until he retired and we met in Francistown at ECCO. I continued to learn from him while he was in management and we also played for the same social football club,” he said.
Sebina worked for Botswana Meat Commission (BMC) after completing studies at Botswana College of Agriculture where he studied meat inspection. He later joined Senn Foods as a manager where he served until his death.
Chippa, as affectionately known by his peers, started his football career at Black Peril in Gaborone before joining Extension Gunners in Lobatse.
He played for Gunners from 1979 until 1983 when he was transferred to Maun Abattoir.
While in Maun, he assisted in the formation of BMC Maun FC where he was player coach until he retired from active football.
In 1989, when the BMC Francistown was opened he was transferred to the Francistown abattoir. Alongside the late Kambizo Bingana, the former General Manager of BMC and Jackson Setle among others co-founded ECCO City Greens in 1992. He was then an assistant coach while the team was playing in the First Division until they gained promotion to the elite league.
In 2006/2007, he was the assistant team Manager when in the same season ECCO City Greens won the Mascom Premier League and was the Coca-Cola runners up respectively. Sebina left ECCO in 2008 when he was transferred to work in Gaborone.
He was a staunch player of Gareitire Social Club. He will be laid to rest at his home in Shashe Bridge tomorrow.