12 Feb 2025

Zebras captain, Thatayaone Ditlhokwe has finally wrestled back his place in the South African giants Kaizer Chiefs’ starting backline.

Ditlhokwe struggled to make it to the starting line-up at the Naturena based side when new coach, Nasreddine Nabi preferred Rushin Dortley and Inacio Miguel in central defence.

Although there were talks that the Zebras captain might be shown the door at the end of the season, he stayed put and worked hard to convince the coach to give him a chance to prove himself.

His comeback did not miss the fans’ eyes as one posted on Kaizer Chiefs fans Facebook page, “Thatayaone Ditlhokwe enhances the strength of the Kaizer Chiefs’ defence. Players such as Miguel and Dortley receive better protection when Ditlhokwe is on the field. Whenever he is included in the starting lineup, we concede less goals or even keep clean sheets. His partnership with Dortley and Miguel is solid defensive.”

The comments to the post were all positive.

Former Zebras player, Diphetogo ‘Dipsy’ Selolwane who also had a good time in the South African Premier Soccer League playing for University of Pretoria, Supersport United, Ajax Cape Town and Santos, told BOPA that Ditlhokwe had done well for himself.

“I always advice upcoming players that football is a struggle. t’s a fight and you can’t always pass the buck to the coach, to say the coach doesn’t love me,” he said.  

Selolwane said when times were tough, it was important for players to focus on themselves and work hard to convince the coach.

“It is the nature of football, one coach might see you and say you are not a good player, and the secret to all this is to love what you are doing and have a good attitude. Eventually the coach will realise that you deserve to get a nod in the first eleven,” he said.

Selolwane said Ditlhokwe’s resilience should inspire different players to individually work on their game. 

“There was a time I attended Sunday soccer at Lekidi. That time the Zebras were in camp. To my surprise, only few players were training and I was told it was day off. But it was Ditlhokwe, Kabelo Seakanyeng, Tumisang Orebonye, Gape Mohutsiwa and Thabang Sesinyi who were training,” he said. 

Selolwane said he was impressed by that attitude from the players, taking their careers seriously and working hard to make sure that they became better. ENDS