Sesinyi rebuilds career from heap of rejection
Koketso Kgoboge | Friday May 27, 2016 09:47
Sesinyi’s clinical finish in extra time of the Mascom Top 8 final against Rollers coupled with an assist for Onkabetse Makgantai, who executed a cool finish, ensured the Ostriches were worthy winners.
“Frankly I have never expected this (cup final win) and it’s still hard to believe,” the ecstatic Sesinyi said after the final. “My first season, my first football medal and a gold (medal) for that matter, it’s a huge achievement for me and I am grateful but not only for that, and for a national team call up. All this in my first season, I am overwhelmed,” he said. Sesinyi said his goal and assist in a Mascom Top 8 final proved his mettle. ‘Gaucho’ as the striker is affectionately known, was born 23 years ago in Palapye. He played street football until the age of 17 when he joined Pilikwe United in the Tswapong Region football Association, a third tier league.
A year later, he moved to Gaborone and joined Matebejane before he left for Notwane the following year. Just as the light was about to shine on a career he so loves, sudden darkness engulfed his dreams the day Notwane offloaded him after a two-year stint.
“I spent the whole of 2013 without playing. I went for trials with many teams in that period and I was rejected.
“I continued and in 2014 when I moved to Orapa and tried my luck with Orapa United, then Maxwell Moyo was the coach and I failed the trials. I almost gave up on football and 2014 was another year I spent without a team. In January 2015, I joined a second division club in Boteti region, Field Masters FC, where I played for six months.”
When Orapa United brought in coach Madinda Ndlovu, Sesinyi said he returned for another trial.
“I went back to Orapa United for a last try when Madinda came, and luckily he gave me a lifeline. It gave me hope because he recognised what other people did not see in me. Madinda has instilled self belief and confidence in me,” he said.
Sesinyi also praised United’s assistant coach, Zacharia Mudzazi. Sesinyi’s debut for Orapa United was as a second half substitute against FC Satmos and he scored in the encounter. He carried on taking his opportunities until he established himself as the Ostriches’ super sub.
Sesinyi has been instrumental in the Ostriches’ resilient campaign. He recently won his first gold medal and scored an important goal in the Mascom Top 8 final. He rounded off his campaign with 14 goals in the beMOBILE Premiership.
Sesinyi said his dream was only to sign for a Premiership side and he had no targets other than playing in a few matches.
“When I came in realistically for a no name, my chances were slim. Looking at the experienced attacking players the team signed at the beginning of the season, the likes of Fraiser (Bonolo), Maswena (Lemogang) and Mokgathi Mokgathi in addition to other strikers who were already there, my dream was just to play at least three games, scoring didn’t even cross my mind. Now I have achieved a lot and I have scored satisfactorily and I am also happy with my overall performance this season,” he said.
Full name: Thabang Sesinyi
Nickname: ‘Gaucho’
Date of birth: October 15, 1992
Place of birth: Palapye
Position: Striker
Current club: Orapa United
Zebras caps: 1
Favourite food: Papa and oxtail