‘It was time’: Botswana coach Ramoreboli on Ditlhokwe’s Chiefs exit
Botswana national team coach Morena Ramoreboli has shared his thoughts on his captain, Thatayaone Ditlhokwe’s exit from Kaizer Chiefs to Libya’s Al Ittihad SC.
The steady centre-back became the latest departure from Kaizer Chiefs during the 2024/25 season. He has penned a deal with 19-time Libyan champions after more than a year in the Soweto giants’ ranks.
Ditlhokwe, who was unveiled at Al Ittihad SC on Monday night, had joined the now Nasreddine Nabi-coached side from SuperSport United before the start of the 2023/24 season.
Plausibly, the Zebras captain was of late enjoying some game time having been overlooked earlier in this campaign.
But the 26-year-old’s national team coach, Ramoreboli, believes the move to North Africa is timeous.
In an interview with FARPost, the former Jwaneng Galaxy gaffer said Ditlhokwe needed a new playing environment.
WHAT RAMOREBOLI SAID ABOUT DITLHOKWE’S EXIT FROM CHIEFS
“I think, honestly, it was time for him to move. Kaizer Chiefs is a big team; I think he played for a big team in South Africa, and look, football is business. Maybe we are only looking at the fact that he was starting to enjoy his football at Kaizer Chiefs, but maybe he looked at other things,” Ramoreboli told FARPost.
“Maybe the move for him is to go and compete somewhere where, maybe financially, he will be gaining something. I don’t know the reasons. But I think as a coach; you will always support the move for a player if he goes where he feels that he will grow and enjoy his game.
“I think he has enjoyed his game at Chiefs up until he left. The best thing you do for yourself is to perform to a point where you leave a mark that people will always remember.”
Ramoreboli added: “I think at his age, he can still come back to South Africa. But at this stage, maybe he needs to go to a new environment. So I still believe that there is still much to be seen from him because he is a very talented player.
“And to be honest, I think he has been doing well. I just pray that he remains humble and continues to work. Change of environment will also help him to focus further and it will help him to gain experience.
“He has been in the South and mastered how football is played in the Southern region. Going to Libya will help him to understand the demands of the game in that part of the continent.”
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