Murwira's last conversation with his barber
Ryder Gabathuse | Friday November 2, 2018 13:52
FRANCISTOWN: Bouga is still reeling in shock following the death of one of his most loyal clients of 10 years, Murwira, whom he affectionately reminisces by his moniker, Satter. He shares some of his last conversations with the fallen player who was already more than a brother to him.
As he mourned the death of his best friend, Bouga insists that the death of his man has come too soon.
“Our team is going to earn promotion at the end of the season because the team management, which is dominated by employees of Botswana Ash has reinforced with good players across all the departments. This is our year!” Satter had shared with Bouga.
One of the words that the deceased repeated last Friday afternoon to the concern of Bouga at his barbershop just a stone’s throw from Meriting Choppies was that, “We are going to be late for training, which is part of preparations for our weekend game against Calendar Stars”. The game ended up being cancelled following the fatal accident that stole the life of an accomplished player that Satter was.
Murwira who was the driver, was in the company of goalkeeper, Ogopotse Tshule, midfielders, Alfred Motiki and Ngwako Ramokgatlhadi. Motiki and Tshule are still hospitalised at the Nyangabgwe Referral Hospital while Ramokgatlhadi was treated and discharged from Sua Clinic.
The late Murwira, who was a natural attacker, had earlier reminisced with nostalgia about Sua Flamingoes’ encounter with one of his former teams, Francistown City Greens. He had described City Greens as a tried and tested side during their encounter with Sua Flamingoes. The late had reportedly blamed his team for wasting about 15 golden opportunities that could have helped them wrap up the game against City Greens with ease.
Murwira had also shared with his hairdresser how during his team’s encounter with Motlakase Power Dynamos he was in the first team and only to be attacked by diarrhoea that saw him dropped, albeit temporarily.
It was only upon his recovery when his side was in the lead that he was roped in just 10 minutes before fulltime. He was also able to predict accurately that one of his former employers, TAFIC was going to bury Motlakase in an avalanche of goals. This came to pass as TAFIC beat Motlakase 3-0 in their weekend encounter.
“He had also whispered to me while I was cutting him that I should expect a lot of good tips from him because his team’s management had pledged to give the players winning bonuses, which he was positive was going to happen as a motivation to win promotion to the elite league,” Bouga remembers with teary eyes, then oblivious that he was hearing from his pal for the very last time.
It was only later on Friday evening when he was relaxed at home that Bouga received an unexpected call from a fellow hairdresser breaking the sad news of the passing on of Satter.
“While I was still frozen after the bad news, an attempt to open up the social media, especially Facebook and an online publication, to confirm the death, my phone just fell from my shaking hands. It was just difficult for me to believe.”
Bouga first met Satter in 2008 while the late footballer was a student at Tabitha Private Secondary School in Francistown and was by then plying his trade at Tonota FC.
He counted a good number of teams that the late played for including TAFIC, then ECCO City Greens, BMC, Township Rollers, Orapa United and Sua Flamingoes.
“His loyalty to my barbershop was never in doubt as even when he had relocated to Gaborone where he was schooling and playing for Township Rollers, he would still come to me to make his best hair cut.”
The duo talked a lot on social issues and the hairdresser enjoyed his client’s company every time he was around although, the football juggler was much younger than his barber.
Satter came across as a very open man and he seemed to enjoy football more than anything. He was always in the company of friends, some of whom he took to the barbershop giving Bouga more business in many occasions.
His former teammates such as Bonolo Frazer and others are some of the clients that Satter brought along to Bouga’s barbershop.
Because his stay in Gaborone had denied him a regular chance to do his usual haircut, he had to spot dreadlocks to avoid the Gaborone cuts.
“There was a time he came to confide in me that drinking alcohol whilst in camp at Rollers once earned him the wrath of the coach and team management. These are some of the secrets that he shared with me.”
During his time at Orapa United, he would introduce his friends to Bouga’s shop and encouraged them to utilise its services. He never dumped his hairdresser and instead, he would tell him that he was proud that he has maintained his hairstyle.
Overtime, Satter and Frazer became very close that, whenever the duo did not make the team’s list at Orapa United, they will both go to Francistown and patronise Bouga’s barbershop.
He quickly recalls a Mascom Top 8 encounter between Rollers and Orapa United at the Francistown Sports Complex, where Satter sneaked out of camp to retouch his hair and crept back unnoticed, as he was so passionate about his hairstyle. Satter will be laid to rest tomorrow in Francistown, with his funeral held at his Area S home.