01 Feb 2024

Molathegi ‘Octopus’ Mangole’s accurate analysis of Botswana’s football landscape made him to win the hearts of football fanatics, and his death has sent shockwaves through the different sectors of society.

Mangole died on Tuesday at Princes Marina Hospital and will be buried on Sunday in Mmopane.

Fundi Gaoforwe, RB2 programmes manager, who introduced Mangole to radio, said he was lucky to have worked with him, describing him as a straight talker who never took sides and was difficult to convince at any given day.

He said he recruited him after realising that he had a rich football background as he was once a referee and linesman.

He added that he understood a lot of issues such as the laws of the game, Botswana Football Association constitution as well as the play rules and regulations.

Mangole was nicknamed ‘Octopus’ after the 2006 World Cup antics of the octopus that accurately predicted the winner of each game in Germany.

Gaoforwe said he made football fashionable and that some of the words and phrases he used became acceptable and used widely throughout the country.

“I thank God to have given me Mangole as my analyst and he worked together for more than two decades for free,” he said, adding that a lot of listeners looked forward to their Monday programme.

Former BOPA reporter, Aupa Mokotedi said Mangole was a formidable sports personality and a true servant of the game.

He said he made the sport exciting with his below the belt comments against rival clubs. Mangole was one of the dedicated army sports personalities who transformed BDF XI backed teams into all conquering clubs. It prompted other clubs to form a rival association at the turn of the century.

Former Township Rollers managing director, Somerset Gobuiwang said he met Mangole around 2008 when he volunteered as the team’s spokesperson.

He said they intensified their membership recruitment drive and that Rollers became fashionable.

He added that he was the only public relations officer who could match the late Clifford Mogomotsi, adding that the National Stadium was always full when they played against Mochudi Centre Chiefs because of the way the two marketed the clash.

He said when match tickets were sold illegally during Rollers games he came up with the idea to discard them in drums full of water to prevent multiple selling.

“The idea worked,” he said

Former BFA president, Tebogo Sebego paid tribute to Octopus on his Facebook page.  

He noted that he knew Mangole from his early childhood days in Old Naledi, and that they went to Therisanyo Primary School, adding that he was fond of two things being football and pantsola culture.

He noted that he was fondly known as Festival, but that he was never a good football player but was vocal and outspoken.

Sebego also said Mangole became a referee at an early age and would blow the whistle during crucial Old Naledi encounters.

He said he later joined the army and started his formal refereeing career. ENDS