TJIZAKE FANCIES NATIONAL TEAM CALL
Mahalapye born, Eric Kennedy Tjizake, started his football career at Twinstars Football Club, in the dusty grounds of Mmopane Block 1, under the guidance of Steve Ketshabile and Mopholosi ‘Afcon’ Reaitsanye.
The 25 year old, who is currently playing for Masitaoka and has captained the side from time to time, started his career in the Gaborone Regional Football 4th Division in 2014 before his team moved to Kweneng Regional Football. However, he has been deeply involved in school sport from primary level.
Tjizake has never been shy to lead and from his early days he was a trusted leader among his peers. “During my time at Mogoditshane Senior Secondary School (2015), I was captaining the school team. During my tenure we became second best to Naledi Senior Secondary School during the BISA GAMES,” he said in an interview this week.
He then went on to lead Kweneng Region Men’s Team at the Botswana Games which were held in Francistown and scooped Silver Medal after losing the Final to the Francistown Region.
“Post BISA and BW Games, I went on to play at Gabane United SC for 2 seasons (2016/2017, 2017/2018) before joining Molepolole based club, Majweng Sporting Club. I was lured to the team by the then Head Coach Kopano ‘Computer’ Phakedi and went on to be the team’s Assistant Captain. I played for Majweng SC for a season and a half and in the 2018/2019 season, we were Molepolole Independence Bronze Medalists.”
His former coach Mopholosi Reaitsanye always spearheaded his moves, midway through the 2019/2020 season, he was recruited and joined Masitaoka Football Club which was then coached by Mr Nelson ‘Manelo’ Olebile.
The team got automatic promotion to Botswana Premier League amid the COVID-19 scare. “I was then chosen to be the second assistant Captain of the team before climbing the Captaincy ranks to be the Assistant Captain and where necessary Captaining the team.”
At age 25 and having not just the talent but the tenacity to lead, Tjizake believes there is more coming. “It’s my debut season in the Premier League as such I’m not entirely satisfied with my performances and as you know, good performances are the ones that will tell if one is heading the right direction or not. As of now, I believe I am heading in the right direction with my football career.”
According to him a leader is someone people look up to, trust, believe in and follow. The importance of a leader is to ensure competence, discipline, adherence in and off the field.
“Like I noted out before, it’s my debut season in local Elite League so there had to be adaptation to different situations; playing more games within a short period of time, traveling long distances and unforeseen injuries that kept me away for long. Apart from it all, I had to soldier on and apply myself, fluctuating performances, so I can say I had an average season,” he stressed.
Having survived relegation in his topflight debut season with Masitaoka and becoming Orange FA Cup Runners Up, he has hope for a better future.
“Going forward my objectives are; to keep my place in the starting team, obviously, consistent good performances, and maybe I’ll get the chance to represent our National team in a short time.”