Ramatsiyi Moholoa

Ramatsiyi Moholoa

Safa Soweto will honour former Bafana Bafana and Moroka Swallows defender Jacob "Bobo" Lekgetho by naming a tournament after him.

"We want the legacy of Bobo to live on, the man put Soweto on the global football map," Phil "Chippa" Mogodi, Safa Soweto chief executive officer, said on Saturday.

Mogodi said Safa Soweto had decided to initiate the Jacob Lekgetho Soccer Challenge, which would start next year in Moletsane, where he was born and bred.

"The tournament will be played during the September school holidays at Moletsane Sports Grounds, where he used to play.

"We are going to engage the Lekgetho family and the City of Johannesburg before starting with all the preparations for the tournament.

"When he returned from Russia, Bobo came to Safa Soweto to inform us of his plans to establish the Jacob Lekgetho Academy.

"We are aware that Bobo used to buy playing equipment for youngsters in Moletsane long after retiring from football."

Lekgetho has also played soccer in Russia for Lokomotiv Moscow, with whom he featured in the Uefa Champions League.

Sipho Xulu, Swallows general manager, said The Dube Birds would definitely offer a helping hand in the proposed Jacob Lekgetho Academy.

Lekgetho was buried at Lenasia Cemetery in Soweto on Saturday. The funeral was attended by hundreds of people, including soccer personalities.

Jeff Moroka, who works for Moroka Swallows, said it was sad that Moletsane High School - which has produced many top soccer stars - did not have a playing jersey.

Moletsane High produced the likes of Lekgetho and his brother George, Thabo Mooki, Tshepo Molatedi, Tebogo Mophaleng, Lefa Mogaila and Abram Khwenenyane.

Safa's national office is expected to send a delegation to Moletsane High School this week to see how they can assist with playing equipment.