Forgotten Thupa eager to return to play
Friday, February 07, 2025 | 60 Views |
Forgotten: Thupa is keen to make a comeback FILE PIC
From the tiny village of Masukwane in the North East, Thupa developed a love for the game from a tender age. He started kicking the ball for Botlhale Primary School’s Under-9 team as a Standard Two pupil. Thupa did not play competitive football until he caught the eye of the Premier League side, Extension Gunners.
He attended the team’s trials at BIAC Grounds (now BPSC Stadium) ahead of the 2019-2020 season and went on to enjoy a great debut campaign in the top flight. It looked like an infant football career heading in the right direction as after just half a season with Gunners, former national team coach, Adel Amrouche, handed him his first Zebras’ call up.
It is not uncommon in this part of the world for parents to actually punish their children when they show signs of depression associating it with issues of indiscipline, and as a result, the poor child will be lashed or given some kind of punishment. We have had many suicide cases in the country and sadly some of the cases included children and young adults. We need to start looking into issues of mental health with the seriousness it...