Ramoreboli raves about Chiefs star despite lack of game time

Ramoreboli raves about Chiefs star despite lack of game time

Botswana’s interim head coach Morena Ramoreboli has spoken glowingly about defender Thatayaone Ditlhokwe, who is currently struggling for game time at his club Kaizer Chiefs.

Even with limited game time, the former SuperSport United centre back has been included in The Zebra’s crucial AFCON qualifiers over the last two months, which culminated in the side booking a ticket to the continental tournament next year. 

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Speaking on Metro FM’s Sports Night Amplified with Andile Ncube, the coach explained why he could not omit Ditlhokwe.

''TT is a leader, the captain of the team. He is always the one who lifts the spirit of the boys. Even yesterday when we changed the system, he became very important because we played him as a centre back on the left and have another centre back on the right and he did that so well. And you need to understand that talking about someone who does not have minutes in club football but his commitment was out of this world,'' said Ramoreboli 

Ramoreboli, who took over the two matches against Mauritania and Egypt, added that Ditlhokwe had rare qualities.

''Remember Ditlhokwe is a left footer and not many teams are fortunate to have a right footer on the right and the left footer on the left, with the ability to play those diagonal balls with quality, he will always attack from his side to the opposite side. He is quick and can read situations for us. You can ask yourself if this man was playing week in and week out, he would be far better than where he is. Tactically he is growing and maturing and that is the most important thing about the game,'' added Ramoreboli.

The Botswana caretaker coach pointed out how important it was to “support” the player with the hope that Nasreddine Nabi will depend on Ditlhokwe more.

''Maybe one day he will get the chance to play. He can’t select himself to be in the team, the coach has to put him in the team. But if the coach is not yet ready to put in, we will have to support him until he gets his chance,'' he expressed. 

Ramoreboli added by suggesting Ditlhokwe, with only 22 minutes for Chiefs so far this season, was getting the short end of the stick.