Local coaches pay tribute to Lesiba Ramabula
The promising 21-year-old soccer player was killed after he was struck by lightning yesterday (March 1).
POLOKWANE – Tributes have poured in following the death of Lesiba Ramabula (21).
The promising soccer player was killed after he was struck by lightning yesterday (March 1). At the time, Ramabula and a teammate were on their way to soccer practice in Seshego Zone 1.
The former Mamelodi Sundowns development team player’s death has been received with disbelief and social media has been abuzz with tribute posts.
Polokwane Review spoke to two of his former coaches, Bayano Moloto and William Motlanthe, who described him as a soccer player with a “sizzling natural talent”.
Moloto, who coached him at Molemole Football Academy and Turfloop Football Academy, said Ramabula was a versatile player who was loved by everyone. “I won a lot of trophies with him at Molemole and we are saddened by the loss. We send our condolences to his family, friends and teammates. He was a humble boy and a true leader and one of the hardest working players I have ever met.”
William coached Ramabula at Seshego Capricorn XI Football Academy when he was 15 years old. He said Ramabula was a quiet boy who was determined to become a top soccer player. “He was disciplined and committed to soccer and we extend our condolences to the family and his friends.”
Meanwhile, Turfloop Academy communications non-executive director Phuti Lekganyane has paid tribute in a statement.
“The news of his death has saddened the whole Turfloop FC franchise. His death has struck a major blow to Turfloop FC and the Ramabula family, as the young central midfielder was the ‘pivotal cog’ to the technical team’s plans of building a club that can campaign in the GladAfrica Championship next season,” he said and added Ramabula joined the team for a morning training session yesterday.
Lekganyane shared that Turfloop president Nakedi Malahlela will send a delegation of the team to the Ramabula family. “They will formally express messages of condolences on behalf of the club. Meanwhile, the club has called off its training sessions for the next two days as the players will be provided time off to deal with this tragedy,” he concluded.
