Veteran sports administrator Dickson Gabanakgosi was laid to rest at Phomolong Memorial Park in Phakalane this past weekend.
Gabanakgosi is a former acting Director in the Department of Sport and Recreation under the Ministry of Sports. He has also served in various capacities in the local sports scene and was influential in sport during its formative years in Botswana.
A sports administrator of repute, he was also instrumental in the mediation process between Township Rollers’ factions. He led the club as its interim President during its turbulent times at the request of the Tebogo Sebego led Botswana Football Association (BFA).
Paying tribute to the administrator, the Ministry of Youth, Gender, Sport and Culture said it remembers him as ‘a jovial, cheerful and charismatic gentleman.’ The Ministry described the late Gabanakgosi as ‘a tireless worker’ who ‘was instrumental in the formative years of the Botswana Sports administration.’
“He was involved in the establishment of the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Culture, now The Ministry of Youth, Gender, Sport and Culture. He contributed immensely in the growth of the Botswana National Sports Council now the Botswana National Sports Commission, the establishment of the Department of Sport and Recreation as well as the establishment of the Botswana National Olympic Committee offices. His love for football led him to assist the Botswana Football Association in various committees.”
“Mr Gabanakgosi will always be remembered for his role in coordinating various steering committees of sport including the National Sport Appeals Board in its formative years. The Ministry of Youth, Gender, Sport and Culture and the sport fraternity will always miss his immense contribution in the development of sport in the country,” the Ministry said.
In their tribute, Rollers described him as ‘A Rollers Father Figure.’ “When there were disputes within the club, Rre Gabanakgosi became a mediator, and he also played a pivotal role in facilitating Rollers’ commercialisation drive,” the team said.
Rollers went on to state that Gabanakgosi’s ‘long association with the Blues made him an important resource in handing over institutional memory to the younger generation of Rollers administrators. “Rre Gabanakgosi also played a crucial role during the Rollers 60th Anniversary commemorations in 2021, assisting the club locate its legends and document Popa history.”
“He passed on as Chairman of the Rollers’ Elders Committee having served the club with distinction for decades. As such the name of Dickson Gabanakgosi will forever remain deeply entrenched in the history of Township Rollers Football Club as one of our pioneers,” the club stated.
