Departed Tiro remembered at Rollers vs BDF XI game
Tumelo Mouwane | Friday May 5, 2017 14:19
It has been a sad week as great soldiers have fallen. Just when the nation looked to reach closure, another sad news from Boksburg, South Africa came in; Botswana’s finest professional boxer Herbert Nkabiti had also passed on that Saturday night at the Sunward Park Hospital in Boksburg. He reportedly suffered a head injury during his bout against Willis Baloyi at Carnival City near Brakpan on Friday night.
Tiro, a soldier who died with the team’s flag on his chest proved to be an impact sportsman not just in the field and in the dressing room but in all areas and situations, which Rollers went through. He passed on ahead of his team’s trip to Serowe to face Green Lovers in a Premier League match scheduled for that Sunday. And as his managers and supporters described him, he was seeing a better game ahead, an optimistic character who did not leave the world the same as he found it.
Tiro was only 26-years-old, something that may make one wish they could ask God why the good die young. Tiro was born on January 21, 1991 at Nyangabgwe Referral Hospital in Francistown. Although his home village is Gulubane in the North East District, he was raised at New Naledi location in Gaborone. He was first seen in Rollers colours back in 2013 when he joined from Uniao Flamingo Santos.
At their first game without him against the army side at Lobatse Sports Complex on Wednesday night, an intense moment of silence remembered Tiro alongside his banner printed “Rest in Peace Tiro” and his picture. It was a very emotional moment for Mapalastina family. On the field, BDF XI rubbed salt into the wound. They gave a fierce battle in a quenching encounter played under the floodlights.
His coach, Mogomotsi ‘Teenage’ Mpote who has been at the forefront of the Blues for three months now, reveals that ‘The President’ was a humble player who prioritised discipline and led by example. “Tiro was a very humble boy. When he got into the field you will know he was a very impact player. He would change the game by all means. He was a very speedy player and would attack at anytime. He would take a defender head on any time.
“People should remember him for many things. He was very humble and we won the league with Madinda Ndlovu back in 2014. The boy played a major role in that league battle. He brought the difference and that is what was unique about him,” Mpote says. Borakanelo Branch chairperson, Malebogo Oitsile could not hold back his tears during an interview with Mmegi Sport as she remembered Tiro as a player who would add a spark to the match.
“When that boy left the bench for a warm up, you would see from the stands that this is a game changer. He would bring a change to the game and make difficult things look easy. He won us numerous penalties through his very deceiving fall.
He will forever stay in the hearts of Rollers supporters. God will be with him and we are thankful for the role he played on the big brand,” she says.
Emmanuel Ramotswadi who has been with G-West branch since 2000, but now under Molepolole Township Rollers branch, Tiro was a player with pace but seemed unwell. “He was a speedy player, but after a certain period of time he would seem tired, according to my analysis he had a chest problem. He was generally a good player. He was very disciplined,” Ramotswadi says.
Twenty five percent of the gate takings from yesterday’s game was donated to Tiro’s family to help in funeral arrangements, the club spokesperson, Phempheretlhe Pheto confirmed. “Yes it is true we donated 25% of the gate taking to the fallen hero’s family.”