Despite struggling with results, Kaizer Chiefs legend Reneilwe ‘Yeye’ Letsholonyane has expressed why Matebele FC, a Botswana-based club, is a perfect fit for him at this stage of his coaching career.
Letsholonyane, who holds a CAF A Coaching Licence, signed a two-year deal with Matebele FC in September 2025. Since taking charge, he has overseen seven matches, resulting in one win, two draws and four defeats. Last Sunday, he registered his first win as Matebele FC coach, beating Calendar Stars 2-0 at the Francistown Council Stadium.
Matebele FC currently sits 13th in the Botswana Premier League with eight points, having played 10 matches. When Letsholonyane joined, the team was 10th with three points, and under his guidance, they have managed to collect five additional points.
Despite the poor results, Letsholonyane believes Matebele FC is the perfect fit for his coaching development.
WHAT THE KAIZER CHIEFS LEGEND SAID
Speaking to FARPost, he attributed his team’s struggles to the inexperience of his players and poor conversion rate, citing these as major factors affecting their performance.
The Kaizer Chiefs legend and ex-AmaZulu FC DDC coach said the team’s objectives align with his goals as a budding coach.
“Matebele FC is a very ambitious team. I think they are one of the teams that have a place they can call home. If they were one of those strong teams, it would be a team that could easily have something close to titles. Because they have a place, it’s an opportunity for me as an upcoming coach,” Letsholonyane told FARPost.
“It’s almost on the same level as I am, with great ambitions. I think the idea to come here was to say I didn’t want to start where there were already big ambitions, and then I struggle. The learning process for me is slower now because it’s a high-pressure area with high-pressure demands.
“So, as much as they are learning, I’m also learning. And for me, it’s about learning as much as I can at the moment. It’s just a matter of time now. Obviously, the competition is increasing, but for now, I’m learning as much as I can,” he added.
LETSHOLONYANE ON THE FACTORS AFFECTING HIS TEAM
On the inexperience of his players and poor conversion rate, Letsholonyane said: “And I’m saying that it makes the learning process easier without any pressure. We haven’t been winning, so yes, the results aren’t good. Is it too much worrying? Not really too much, but it’s a worrying factor.
“It’s a worrying factor because we’re playing well and there’s a lot of improvement. We’re doing very well.
“We really dominate those matches, we dominate with anything that you can think of, and then we create a lot of chances. And then we don’t score, we don’t capitalise, and we don’t score.
“But that’s caused by the inexperience of the players that I have. I have a lot of players who are Under-21 on my team, and a lot of players who are in their first season in the Premier League. So, inexperience creeps in a lot of times.”
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