The future of more than 30 young soccer players at the Sidlal’idiski Sports Academy hangs in the balance following the untimely death of its co-founder, Mogomotsi Ramoabi Mabena on 14 November.
Doctor (41), as he was known in the football fraternity, died at the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital following a short illness.
Co-founded by Doctor and academy coach Pule Tladi early this year in partnership with Adidas, The Sports Trust and MC Weiler Primary School, it started with a handful of players and today it boasts well over 30 young and aspiring soccer players of both genders.
Parents of the children in the academy are also heavy involved in the affairs and running of the institution as Doctor wanted to pull all resources and skills into the success of his dream project.
Speaking in an interview with Alex News at the memorial service of Doctor at the East Bank Hall on 17 November, his sister Gina Bryant described her brother as ‘a football soldier who waged many battles to get where he was, including the establishment of the academy’.
“Mogomotsi never wanted to do anything outside football,” she said.”He lived, ate, drank and slept all things football. I remember at one stage how he gave me a dressing down when I suggested he finds a job as this football thing of his was seemingly going nowhere.
“My brother was a community builder as he selflessly sought sponsorship kits and boots for various teams in the Alexandra Northrand Local Football Association and others outside the league, including ordinary soccer players who had no boots.”
He did all this under his One Child One Soccer Boot initiative, and Sandtonview High School where his 12-year-old son Keabetswe is a star footballer, also benefited from this project. Though not married, Doctor had a long-time partner, Lebo Sehume.
“I fear for the future of these children and the academy now that Doctor is gone,” said Bryant. “These kids were all that Doctor lived for. He had great dreams for them. He would tell us he longs for the day when some of these boys and girls make it to either Bafana Bafana or Banyana Banyana, and he would brag about them being his product.”
During his coaching stint at Kaizer Chiefs U15, he helped mould Itumeleng Khune who is now the best Bafana goalkeeper. When Doctor moved to Orlando Pirates under the mentorship of Augusto Palacios, he brought with him a gem in the form of Patrick Phungwayo, whom he started nurturing in Alexandra at the age of seven.a gem
“I feel sorry for whoever will have to fill his shoes at the academy, as Doctor was a hard act to follow. Rest in peace our legend. You have played your part in the development of football in Alexandra,” concluded Bryant.
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