FROM the time he was six years old, Lesiba Ramabula was already seen as a future star.
He rose quickly through the ranks and everybody expected great things from him. But that was not to be.
Lightning has snuffed out the life of a future soccer legend!
The up-and-coming 21-year-old soccer star from zone 1 in Seshego outside Polokwane, Limpopo, was fatally struck by lightning on Tuesday, 1 March.
He was certified dead on arrival at Seshego Hospital. Lesiba was on his way home from training at 95 Turfloop FC in Mankweng when he was killed at a park just a kilometre from his home.
He played for Mamelodi Sundowns’ ABC Motsepe League club from August 2019 until June 2021.
He had risen up the ranks when he started playing for Seshego Capricorn FC from the age of six until the age of 12. Then he joined Molemole Academy in 2014 and was promoted to playing under-17 where he was carried the captain’s arm band until 2018. He then went to Limpopo School of Excellence until he joined Mamelodi Sundowns in 2019.
His uncle and family spokesman, Bennet Ramabula (47) said the family is finding it hard to accept his death.
He said: “We saw his love for football from the age of six. We were looking up to him. His death has left us speechless.” Bennet told Daily Sun Lesiba’s mother, Lorraine (45) is heartbroken.
“She is struggling to come to terms with her son’s death,” he said.
“She can’t even have a conversation without ending up in tears. She was hoping that he would change the family’s situation.” Lesiba was described as a quiet and loving young man. “He had a good heart. Everybody loved him. He never fought with anyone. His family was his first priority,” he said.
“Whenever they washed his white clothes, he’d wash them again. He wanted them to perfect.” He said they will miss his laughter.
“We saw him getting up very early to go training. His biggest wish was to one day play overseas for clubs like Real Madrid and Arsenal,” he said. Lesiba leaves behind his mum, brothers Clement (25) and Sipho (14), his sisters Mpoka (19 and Queen (15) and his gogo Queen (79). The family has not decided on a date for the funeral. At the time of his death, Lesiba was training with 95 Turfloop FC and was waiting to sign a contract. The club’s spokesman, Phuti Lekganyane said death has struck a major blow against the club.
“He was a promising football player. As a young central player, he was the pivotal cog to the technical team’s plan of building the club that must campaign in the Glad Africa Championship,” he said.
The club has called off its training session for the next two days to deal with the tragedy.
Limpopo social development MEC Nkakareng Rakgoale has sent a team of social workers to provide psychological support to Lesiba’s family.
