Donald Thobega

Donald Thobega (21 October 1974 – 28 March 2009), often known by his nickname Boboza, was a Motswana footballer who played as a midfielder. A sergeant in the Botswana military, he last played for Botswana Defence Force XI. Between 1999 and 2006, he won a total of five caps for the Botswana national football team.

Thobega started his career in the Botswana lower leagues before transferring to Mogoditshane Fighters in 1998. He was a patron of the Test For Life campaign. On 28 March 2009, Thobega died three weeks after being involved in a car accident near Lobatse. He was buried in his home village of Ramotswa on 4 April 2009.

Personal life Thobega was born on 21 October 1979. He enlisted in the Botswana Defence Force as a private in 2005 and by the time of his death had been promoted to the rank of sergeant. The team also won the league in 2003, as well as winning the Botswana Challenge Cup in 1999, 2000 and 2003.

In 2005, Thobega left Mogoditshane to join the Botswana Defence Force. He became a part of the military football team, the Botswana Defence Force XI, and was appointed team captain. The team reached the final of the Challenge Cup in his first season, but lost 3–1 to Township Rollers. He did not feature in that match, and was never selected for the national side again.

Death

In March 2009, Thobega was involved in a car accident while driving back to Lobatse from a music concert in Molapowabojang. Following the incident, he spent almost three weeks in the Intensive Care Unit of Princes Marina Hospital in Lobatse. He died of his injuries on 28 March 2009 and was buried in Ramotswa on 4 April 2009.

Botswana Defence Force XI manager Pudulogo Sokwane spoke highly of Thobega, stating that he was "shocked about his death" and that it was "really painful to have been robbed of such a star." Fellow Botswana international and Defence Force XI team-mate Nelson Gabolwelwe also praised Thobega, saying he had lost "a close friend in the team".