I am a champion by my own right

A great epitome of the saying “it takes a community to raise a child”, not only is he a great actor who keeps us entertained on SABC screens every weekday but Mr Patrick “Advocate Bopape” Bokaba has dedicated most of his time to touching lives of the future leaders of South Africa through his motivational talks and activations. We reached out to him to hear all about the beautiful work he’s been putting in communities, Kgothatso Malepe goes through the conversation with him.

 

Kgothatso—Your love for Mamelodi Sundowns is vividly portrayed through your social media interactions with the supporters, how you publicly speak highly of the club, where does the love stems from, why Mamelodi Sundowns?

 

Patrick—Many of us when we grew, we follow suit our fathers when it comes to football. I grew up in Atteridgeville, I played soccer, grade A soccer in high school and many people thought I’d make it as a professional, but you know, I also wanted to but you know God gives us a lot of talent. Later in life you realize what is your calling.

I followed my Father, I used to support Swallows. We used to have conversations as majita, I’m very passionate about soccer- it is one of my primary passions. Most of us we are in Pretoria but support Soweto Giants, so I thought to myself, dad will forgive me, Let me support Sundowns. Legends like Iwi Kambule made to admire Sundowns, Coach Screamer Tshabalala made me to enjoy watching Sundowns, I loved what I used to see, you just couldn’t ignore it.

When I was contemplating, I met Daisy Kgopa, I do not know if it was coincidentally or accidentally; Go tseba Modimo (only God knows). I met Daisy at one of the schools in Mamelodi where I was giving a motivational talk. We had a discussion to team up and work together when going to schools. From there, we met again after few weeks and first thing that came out of my mind was that “I am a champion by my own right, I am glad that I’m now associated with an internationally renowned brand, not just internationally but champions in their own right”.

Ever since, I have done so many activities and projects with Mamelodi Sundowns and I have attended about 95% percent of their games. Sometimes people approach thinking that I am a Mamelodi Sundowns official. What can I tell you is that Sundowns is more than a football club, I have so many ideas to help Sundowns reach out to the communities. I wrote a play called ‘Start over’, it about gender-based violence and it can be played through all the branches.

 

Kgothatso— You have been involved in few projects in collaboration with the other Sundowns supporters, can you tell me about them?

 

Patrick—I have been working with Sundowns for the past 7 years. We reach out to schools, that is where my passion is. I do motivations and activations at schools. Our scope goes beyond just activations, when the children have problems, we address them and go as far as reaching out to their families as well.  We do follow-ups, we give and make difference with the little that we have simultaneously selling the brand to them because if you are associated with Mamelodi Sundowns you will be a victor in everything.

 Kgothatso— I am sure you are aware of the MSFC Supporters Structures; it is being said Sundowns supporters own all the stadiums, mainly because wherever they go, it does not matter what the match results, the supporters rejoice with the team. Do you think the structures have solidified the bond between and the team, and also between the supporters themselves?

 

Patrick—I think they have but we still not at the level that we are supposed to be at. We need to do an introspection; we need to attend games and not just support Sundowns on social media and television. Now the question comes, how to get supporters to the stadium? I always say when I go to schools, sometimes I talk to the SGB. Take soccer as a religious thing, we attend games so that we can give courage to our players, when we are rallying behind the team at home, they can’t really see that. We have to start painting the stadium yellow when we go back to stadiums and stop using socio economic problems as a scapegoat. We need to change the way we look at things.  A big brand is determined by the followers. Let us be champions by putting a butt on those chairs.

 

Kgothatso— Do you belong to any specific branch?

 

Patrick: I move around, currently I am in Midrand.

 

Kgothatso— You have been one of the judges at Miss Mamelodi Sundowns pageant auditions, how was the experience, take me through it?

 

Patrick— ‘A thorn in roses’, it felt that way, it was amazing and beautiful. A good thing about it is that my judgement on an individual is very fair. I am an emotional being because I want everyone to win. I am fortunate enough to be at the pageant all the time.

 

Kgothatso— Just how important it is for young girls to enter for Miss Mamelodi Sundowns?

 

Patrick—It is beyond their looks; it is beyond how we see them showing off their beauty on the ramp. It has more to do with how they will make a difference in their communities. if you can follow track, it is not just a pageant, it is about changing lives and inspiring other young girls.

 

Kgothatso— As one of the adjudicators previously what can you say to a young girl out there who’s perhaps doubting themselves when thinking of taking part in the pageant?

 

Patrick—I am going to cut to the chase, nothing beats confidence. God gave us gifts; no gift is bigger than other people’s gifts. What makes at Gardner not to be regarded as a professional if they are doing their job well with love and passion. We must embrace our gifts and purpose.

You must tell yourself that “when I go out there, they would’ve seen the greatness that I have”. Nothing is more important than believing in yourself, once you have that you kick down doors. Nothing can stand in way of what you must attain- confidence is key.

Kgothatso— What has been your most memorable game as a Sundowns supporter?

 

Patrick—Super cup game because we have championship. We played confederation cup champions and we beat them. I remember I was at Loftus, that day I felt more as a champion than when we beat Zamalek- We became champions of champions.

 

Kgothatso—Sundowns became team of the decade in the 90s and in the 2010s, which team has been the best for you? The one that won the league 3 time consecutively in the late 90s, the CAF Champions league squad or the one that recently secured an Absa Premiership league title for the 3rd time in a row?

 

Patrick—2016 CAF champions league squad gave 200%. What we achieve speaks louder.

Kgothatso— Ok now let’s shift away from football a bit, you have been involved community projects, working with schools and prisons. What is the importance of giving back to the communities and empowering the youth?

Patrick—First and foremost, I’m a product of God’s grace, it means my life is not my own. When I was born, I was born for the world, for the communities and to make a difference. I like saying “Motho ke Motho ka Batho”, what Sundowns jerseys has written in the front says a lot, we are linked with ubuntu and should live up to that and pride ourselves with it.

Leotswa lesale lenana (groom them young) specifically because as a young person you have to get it right at that age. I use soccer analogy so that they can know that if a person falls, they can keep trying until they are champions. In that way, you instil good spirit in their lives, you instil respect and humbleness.

“Be a good ambassador and rep of your family”, I always tell them we Masandawana family we are not average. Even when I’m gone one day, I want to be remembered for having motivated kids and touched their lives. I also give hope to inmates at correctional services, I always tell them that they have to acknowledge their problem in order to change.

 Kgothatso—What other projects are you involved in your line of work as an entertainer?

Patrick—It has been good nine years in Skeem Saam, we started in 2011. I fear and respect God, I wanted to be a lawyer growing up. So now I have played a number of characters where I’m a lawyer, 17 years ago on Soul city 7, Muhvango, an international movie and currently on Skeem Saam.

On the 29^th of May I released a single called Besuka.

A very passionate Sundowns supporter by name of the Lawrence Erasmus wrote a book called “Yellow Nation”. We are cooking something behind the scenes and every Sundowns supporter should have the copy of the Yellow Nation book.   

 

Kgothatso— Thank you so much for your time, it has been nice chatting to you.

 

Patrick—Thank you for reaching out as well.