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.
