02 Jul 2024

The football fraternity is mourning the death of one of Botswana’s football stalwarts, Matshediso ‘Saxton’ Kowa who died on Saturday.

Family spokesperson Moses Rammutla said Kowa, who had been battling with a long illness and was admitted at Sir Ketumile Masire Teaching Hospital, would be buried in Moshupa on Saturday. 

Born on June 2, 1955 in Soweto, South Africa, Bra Tshidi, as he was affectionately called, will be remembered for grooming young players to stardom among others; Mogakolodi ‘Tsotso’ Ngele, Thato Bolelweng, the late Gofaone Tiro and Bakang Moeng, among others. 

One football administrator, Bennett Mamelodi said he grew up watching Kowa and he would sometime stand at the back of the goalpost in admiration. 

He however said as he developed as a goalkeeper, he modelled his play around Mooketsi ‘China’ Mading.

“Like many others, I was drawn to the work he did after retirement, when he became a football coach,” he said. 

He said Kowa’s fixation onto South American football was impressive.

He said the work he did with Flamengo Desportos, which later merged with Santos, was a work of art.

He said the talent that came through his tutelage was something that they look at with pride. 

“We used to interact, he was a big brother, a mentor. I got to work with him closely for the first time at Jwaneng Galaxy, when he was the director of football and youth development,” he said.

Bra Tshidi, besides his strict demeanor, Mamelodi said was a humble, jolly and caring human being, adding that he always had time to talk about football and life in general. 

“He was a good man and football has lost a giant. It will take time in football to have someone like Bra Tshidi,” he said.

Former Township Rollers managing director, Somerset Gobuiwang said Kowa was one of the football administrators and coach who had the interest of players at heart. 

He said the love for developing young players was what separated him from other coaches around the country.

“Kowa believed that teaching players at an early age was a way to go,” he said.

Meanwhile, Botswana Football Association, chief executive officer, Mfolo Mfolo has confirmed that they would hold a memorial service for Kowa at the National Stadium tomorrow at 2pm. Ends