The Black Peril I loved and captained

RAMPHOLO MOLEFHE | Friday June 18, 2010 00:00

His team almost always emerged the victor over Moeng, where Mogolori Modise played right wing, and the village rivals at Swaneng.

The home teams, Miscellaneous and Motherwell, always had trouble coping with Uncle Ray's TTC.

He already had a reputation from his teaching days at Mochudi where he also coached Rovers and the secondary school teams.

My father was transferred to the United States in 1968 to return in '72, and when I returned I found that Black Peril was competing in the fourth division, practicing at what was known as 'Monametsi's' ground at Bontleng Primary School.

The team played in white shorts and vests, graduating into soccer boots sponsored by the club patron, Ray Molomo, when our sights were set on graduation to the first division. It did not take much more than three years.

As we tore up the junior league tables on our way to the 'super league', the team gained a more definable character.

We went out in all-black with a black image of a panther against a maroon background on our badge.

Tizzah Sekgaphane was invited to Gaborone from Johannesburg where he was a Moroka Swallow icon for years, to join Zero Johnson who had found a station at Mayor, Wellie Seboni's Gaborone United who exchanged the league championship with Township Rollers on the Super League log, usually with Maletamotse and Notwane in third and fourth place.

They made a great team when Ike Molefi joined as trainer.  He was a dancer of repute who did not compromise with sluggishness in training.

Captain Michael 'Spokes' Gaborone, then employed at the Ministry of Labour and Home Affairs, stopped over for practice before taking the long walk to Tlokweng. 

My first game soon after my return from the US was at the Prisons' field near the old airport where, playing for the second team, I scored a header playing at the No 10 berth which I occupied for three years at New Rochelle High School, also winning a position on the New York All-State High School squad.

That was not good enough to earn a position on the first team at Black Peril.

Because I had advanced quickly at school, way ahead of my age group, I enjoyed being identified with the older boys who were more physically developed.

I relied on wit rather than brawn to occasionally get a spot on the first team when Zero, Judah, Chippah, Tinah, Levi or Ten Ten, were not there.  Gaborone or 'Msomi', after Msomi Khoza of South Africa's Kaizer Chiefs and Mayanka 'Brixton Murder and Robbery Squad' Mogami, were always present at the full and left back positions.  He handled Rollers' 'Pro' Morwalela expertly.

Even when I played for the first team, I always found that I was a few paces behind the bigger and older guys, but I stuck in there until Ike and Bra Tizzah arrived.

'Ten rounds at 880 speed,' was Ike's first instruction. I had only ever been under that sort of pressure when I joined the track team in New Rochelle so that I would be in good shape for the soccer season.

Owaii, the weaklings disappeared giving the excuse: 'We are here to play ball, not to race'.  The real reason was that they had no discipline or guts.  Tizzah dished out the skills training and the tactics, transforming our traditional system of man-to-man out of a 5-2-3 formation to 4-3-3.  In less than three months of that integrated training - head and body - I began to take charge of my role in the team. It was magical. I was growing into a midfield general. The other players started to look to me for inspiration. They elected me captainI felt the change when Rovers challenged us to a friendly on their home ground in Mochudi.

I kept seeing maroon shirts passing in the opposite direction to where I was travelling, allowing me ample space to deliver the ball to Bernard 'Tai-Tai' Motshome, the one centre forward who was cheated out of the opportunity to play for the national team.

We scored a load, sending a message to the Kgatleng teams, one of them Sexton Kowa's Centre Chiefs, never to even think that a contest against us would be a casual encounter.They got the message.

Montshiwa Swallows arrived from Mafikeng, where I had grown up 20 years before, to challenge us at the National Stadium. They represented the vestiges of Queens Happy Hearts who at independence in 1966 dissolved into Notwane and Rollers, some retaining their colonial name, to shape a footballing community that would be reflective of the non-racial democracy that Seretse Khama wanted to build in Botswana.

Tai Tai scored a thousand goals in the encounter, and allowed me to take a penalty, which was my specialty next to shielding the ball.

Tizzah showed me the formulae: to the right handed keeper, hit the ball with the inside of the boot into the top left hand corner. I think we walked off the field at 7-0.  Rollers invited a team from South Africa. Mostly coloureds as South African apartheid classification had it. We played at the Rollers ground near the Gaborone train station.

This was one of our most valued matches. We beat the team by a narrow score, 2-1, or maybe, I-nil and they went on to either draw with Rollers or beat them the following day.  But we got the better result!

One of the sweetest victories was against Notwane at a Botswana Federation of Trade Unions sponsored soccer contest at the national stadium.  I played opposite one of the greatest footballers the country ever produced, the great Willie 'Paymaster' Dennison.

My only prayer was to get to the ball first.  Once Willie gets it, forget it.

I was fit, and I know from the way that Notwane practiced, that they did not like training. Aubuti Lebang Mpotokwane got me to play for the team and the only guy who came to training was 'Sweet Panana'.

On that day, I was the fitter guy.  And in any case, stars generally expect team mates to fetch them the ball, and that is exactly what I was going to prevent. Black Peril went on to win the cup and some handsome prize money to help Uncle Ray replenish his account.

Jesus, the man gave us his blue Chevrolet van to travel to matches and brought us the most beautiful and modern kit when he returned from London. You just had to play well in that suit!Black Peril was not all soccer. It was a philosophy, a youth brigade.

Black Peril is recommended for the politicians to study team work and the skill of listening and logic.

Ray Molomo insisted on three things: - The referee's word is final.  Rollers and GU were the best and the most unruly, rarely able to concede defeat, especially when playing against each other, just like our modern politicians.

Salt and Pepper.  That is shorthand for: 'Entertain the fans, and enjoy yourselves'.  And so when we were ahead, the last 10 minutes of the game were devoted to displaying our skills.  Re e loka letswai le pepere when Shaluza Max gave the order. Re e gata, re e gatoga.

Celebrating brotherhood. We were from different neighbourhoods: Tlokweng, Tshaba Ntsa, 'Fourteen', Judah and Pepe were from Moeding and Peleng in Lobatse, Zero from Molepolole and Tai Tai originally from Ramotswa.

Wonder 'Mhlabathi' Myisela should have been a national team keeper but unfortunately, Peril did not have the politicians that GU, Rollers and Notwane had in the places that picked the squad.  Finally, China Mading made it.

Bernard 'MacZoza- Tai Tai' Motshome did not miss a chance at a goal when he was one-on-one with the greatest of the stoppers including Rex Morakaladi, Sedia Modise. Eugene Kraai, Geoffry Mfila, Daniel Kwelagobe or Sylvester.

Roy Lefenya was brewed at Black Peril from Moeding and he was probably the most recognised of the team's products. Jimmy Kareem was magic.

My pick of the best of the Black Peril generation:  Forwards:  Boyce Moffat, Willie Dennison, Wonder Tlape, Torpedo 'Masheleng Tladi, 'Muller' Mothelesi, 'Chippa' Mahloane, 'Tai Tai' Motshome. Calvin Makhaza.'General' (Notwane)

Midfield: Sola Mokgadi, 'Tuki' (GU), my cousie, 'Don Don' Lesolle,

Defenders: Rex Morakaladi, Sedia Modise. 'Rhoo' (GU/Notswane) Brixton (GU) Thuli (GU) 'Two Man's Power' (Rollers)

Goal Keepers: Black Cat (Gunners), Phillip Mauco (Maletamotse), Newman 'Pecos Kid' Motsepe, the incredible 'Sterring' (GU)

Peril celebrities:  Kgosi Michael 'Msomi' Gaborone. Minister of Education, Matlapeng 'Shaluza' Molomo. Coach: 'Bra Tizzah' Sekgapane, 'Dumba' Mamelodi of CAF and FIFA.

* These biographical notes celebrate the return of Black Peril to the Premier League where it belongs.  Long live 'Mchacho'.