Dust to Dust, Ashes to Ashes…!
For the past 20 years I discovered many talented youngsters with my pen and paper. Some of the players who went to make a name for themselves in football and graced our back page headlines include Thabo Rakhale, Abia Nale and Steve “Chippa” Lekoelea to mention but a few.
When I wrote about them during that time, they did not know that they would become household names in South African football.
Mpho Tshowana Mokonyana who passed away in a car accident is another talent that TOUCHLINE discovered when he was playing for local amateur team Celta Vigo Dev FC. When he featured in these pages as a 12-year-old not many expected the boy to come out on top. At the age of 24 much was expected from “Dida” but he was taken too soon. He used to make the local soccer fans happy with his God given talent.
He was one of the best players to have come out of this region to date. TOUCHLINE witnessed the development of Dida playing at the dusty streets of Sebokeng. I was also there when his former school – Bulatsela Primary School hosted a farewell party for him when he went to the Safa School of Excellence.
TOUCHLINE would like to pass condolences to Dida’s family, friends, colleagues and football fraternity. REST IN PEACE DIDA…!!!
