Kaizer Chiefs have announced the departure of Botswana national team captain, Thatayaone Ditlhokwe, just as his career with the club appeared to be gaining momentum.
Ditlhokwe leaves after a year and a half with the Soweto giants, having joined on a free transfer from SuperSport United during the 2023/24 PSL season.
The Glamour Boys confirmed Ditlhokwe’s exit on Friday, stating that the defender has penned a deal with Libyan giants Al Ittihad, as initially reported by FARPost.
This move comes as a surprise, as Ditlhokwe had recently become a regular starter for Chiefs under coach Nasreddine Nabi. The 26-year-old Zebras captain had impressed this season, building on a solid start to his time at Naturena.
He has made 11 appearances in all competitions this season, primarily at left-back, with only one appearance in his natural centre-back position, as Nabi prefers Inacio Miguel and Rushwin Dortley centrally.
In his debut season with Amakhosi, Ditlhokwe made 21 appearances across all competitions, including 17 in the Premiership, where he formed a strong partnership with Given Msimango at centre-back.
According to Amakhosi, Ditlhokwe is scheduled to depart this weekend for Tripoli, the capital of Libya, where he will join his new teammates and coaching staff.
CHIEFS, AL-ITTIHAD AGREE ON DITLHOKWE TRANSFER
“Kaizer Chiefs have reached an agreement with Libyan club, Al-Ittihad for the transfer of defender Thatayaone Ditlhokwe,” reads the club statement.
“Ditlhokwe, who hails from Botswana and serves as the captain of his national team, Dipitse (The Zebras), joined Kaizer Chiefs at the start of the 2023-24 season from SuperSport United.
“During his 18-month tenure with Amakhosi, he made 32 appearances across all competitions, primarily playing as a left-sided centre-back and, more recently, as a left-back in coach Nasreddine Nabi’s team.
“Affectionately known as ‘TT’, the 26-year-old played his final match for Amakhosi last Friday in a 1-0 win over Stellenbosch in Cape Town.”
At his new club – Al Ittihad, Ditlhokwe will join his fellow Botswana national team player, Tumisang Orebonye. Orebonye recently joined the 19-time Libyan Premier League champions from AS FAR Rabat in a deal worth US$500,000 [approximately R9.2 million].
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