News

Gabonamong hangs his boots

May 30, 2017

Yesterday, the legendary Mogogi “Gino Manchester” Gabonamong announced his retirement from football. The announcement came a few days after winning the BTC Premiership league medal of 2016-2017 with Township Rollers.

“I have decided to retire from football,” Gabonamong tells rollersfc.com, “I just felt this was the right time, I am at an age where I feel I have done enough and need to move on from playing the game.”

Gino’s football career is nothing short of spectacular. When he was a teenager, English Premier League giants Manchester United called him for trials, hence his nickname Manchester. In 1998, when he was only 15 years of age, he was playing in the Botswana Premier League with Mogoditshane Fighters.

“My time with Fighters was my most successful in terms of silverware; we were winning league titles and cup competitions,” said Gabonamong.

At the age of 16, he made his debut for the Zebras, where he went on to make 47 appearances. He spent 9 years in South Africa Premier League where he made 237 appearances, a record for a Motswana.

This mouth-watering CV of Gino was not an unexpected stroke of good luck. When asked about his success secrets, he said without discipline, focus, humility and hard work, nothing is achievable.

He took to Facebook to humbly thank football family and everyone.

“Thank you can never be enough. Because there is so much to be thankful for, and so many people to thank. Thank you everyone,” reads Mogogi’ post.

BFA would like to thank Gino for his extraordinary service to Football, and wishes him nothing but the best.

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Botswana and Algeria Strengthen Sports Ties, with Football Development in Focus

Francistown, Botswana – The Honourable Minister of Sport & Arts, Mr. Jacob Kelebeng, recently welcomed a courtesy visit from Honourable Walid Sadi, Algeria’s Minister of Youth & Sports, along with His Excellency Ambassador Abdelmalek Tigharhar of Algeria.

The discussions centered on fostering collaboration between the two nations in sports development, with particular emphasis on Paralympics, football, boxing, and athletics. This engagement presents valuable opportunities for Botswana to benefit from Algeria’s advanced sporting infrastructure, training programs, and technical expertise.

As part of the visit, Honourable Sadi also met with BFA President Mr. Tariq Babitseng, alongside Minister Kelebeng. Discussions highlighted Algeria’s well-established football development structures, coaching programs, and talent identification pathways, which could serve as a benchmark for Botswana’s football growth strategy.

BFA President Emphasizes Football Development

Speaking on the significance of the engagement, BFA President Mr. Tariq Babitseng expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, noting that Botswana stands to gain valuable insights from Algeria’s football model.

“Football development remains a key priority for the BFA, and this engagement allows us to benchmark against one of Africa’s leading football nations. Algeria’s structured approach to grassroots football, coaching development, and high-performance training presents a great learning opportunity for Botswana. We are excited about the potential collaborations that will enhance our football structures and elevate the sport in the country,” said Babitseng.

The Minister was accompanied by Permanent Secretary Ms. Nancy Chengeta of the Ministry of Sport & Arts (MOSA), along with key sports leadership figures, including:

✅ BNSC Chairperson: Mr. Marumo Morule

✅ BNSC CEO: Mr. Tuelo D. Serufho

✅ BNSC Executive Management

✅ Botswana Football Association (BFA) Executives

✅ Various dignitaries and stakeholders

The BFA remains committed to building strategic international partnerships that contribute to the growth, professionalization, and long-term sustainability of football in Botswana.