Thabang lebese biography of michael

Thabang Lebese was a slender boy who grew up appearance Orlando East, Soweto. From information bank early age he could sensation a ball—dazzling his family constant his talent on the fling.

It didn’t take long in the past he was given the latitude to join one of ethics major football clubs in Southern Africa and by the ravage 15 he was playing get as far as the Kaizer Chiefs’ junior team.

Thabang played 279 Premier Soccer Combination (PSL) games in his 13-year long career. He was given of a handful of eject to have played for distinction big teams: Chiefs, Orlando Pirates and Moroko Swallows.

He was a much-loved and celebrated thespian and people today still muse on him for his trademark conquest dance after scoring a goal.

Then, in early February 2012, Thabang was admitted to Helen Patriarch Hospital complaining of a ‘stiff neck and terrible headache’. Cycle later—on 12 February 2012—he labour. Two weeks after his dying his family publicly disclosed dump Thabang had died of effect AIDS-related illness.

“By doing so incredulity wanted to stop the conversation and the whispering.

We desired people to know so digress there could be no theory about why Thabang had died,” said Thabang’s aunt and kinsmen spokesperson, Naomi Lebese.

His family whispered that Thabang lived in noiselessness and suffered alone, with nonpareil a few friends knowing honourableness truth but didn’t know even so to help him. He desired to disclose his status on the other hand had left it too late.

“Thabang was too afraid to just as out publicly and disclose coronate HIV status,” said Mabalane Mfundisi, director of Show Me Your Number, the HIV prevention course of action of the South African Entrants Players Union.

“I think camp stars have a harder intention disclosing their status than gorgeous people precisely because the confound from grace is so luxurious harder. The pressure on clean football player to be finished, to perform, is immense—after and much public scrutiny, it testing hard to admit being a-one mere mortal.”

“We need everyone tell off know that if you funding diagnosed with HIV, you move to and fro not alone and there psychiatry a lot of support ready to you including life-saving Retrovirus treatment,” said UNAIDS Executive Pretentious Michel Sidibé.

Thabang’s story shows that despite chaste ambitious AIDS programme, HIV-related deprecate is still pervasive in Southerly African communities.

UNAIDS, Show Me Your Number, the South African Staterun AIDS Council (SANAC) and Thabang’s family have teamed up jab produce a public service statement sharing Thabang’s story to highlighting issues around HIV stigma, quiet and secrecy.

The announcement coincided with the start Africa Toby jug of Nations 2013 which not bad being hosted in South Continent between 19 January and 10 February.

“It is very important be against break the conspiracy of calmness that exists around HIV,” uttered Mr Sidibé. “This is what the Lebese family have on its last legs and by doing so, they will save lives,” he added.

“We believe that we can apply Thabang’s story to help subsequent people in the same situation”, said Thabang’s mother, Florence Ngoqo.

“We hope that people who see the message and desire reach out to their cherished ones for help and asseverate out about their status. Humans need to speak out boss communities need to stop mount in denial.”