Botswana coach Mogomotsi Mpote has no doubt that new Kaizer Chiefs signing Thatayaone Ditlhokwe will handle the pressure and demands of playing for the Soweto Giants.
Ditlhokwe was signed by Amakhosi from SuperSport United on a free transfer ahead of this coming season, having spent four years in Pretoria.
The 24-year-old won the Botswana Premier League title in the 2018/19 season and that triggered SuperSport to capture him.
At the end of that campaign, he helped Botswana reach the COSAFA Cup final, losing to Zambia at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban.
Ditlhokwe joined Chiefs as new signing alongside Given Msimango, Mduduzi Mdantsane, Ranga Chivaviro, Pule Mmodi, Edson Daniel Castillo Garcia and Tebogo Potsane.
The Botswana international was actually signed in January on the pre-contract and Amakhosi, who are rebuilding once again under new coach Molefi Ntseki, handed him a contract until 2027, becoming the second Botswana player after Terence Mophuting to join Chiefs.
“For me, I’m happy because this will improve his game because at Kaizer Chiefs he will always be under pressure,” said Mpote in Durban during the COSAFA Cup.
“And it is nice to have a player there, who is always under pressure to deliver.”
Mpote said having players like Ditlhokwe and Tumisang Orebonye, who won the CAF Confederations Cup with USM Alger, will improve the national team’s chances of finally qualifying for big competitions in future.
“For us to groom them, we are trying to reinforce their mental strength, tactical application to meet what is required in whatever you do,” he added.
“Now that he is playing for Kaizer Chiefs, our home boys will want to play for Chiefs, Mamelodi Sundowns or Orlando Pirates.”
Mpote gave Ditlhokwe the captain’s armband in 2019 because he foresaw then that he was a special talent.
“I chose him when he was 20 or 21 and for him to be the captain, the leader, you will see here at Kaizer Chiefs that this boy is a leader,” assured Mpote.
“You will see his leadership skills of leading because he is one player who is brave to control and lead these young boys. He always encourages them to get where he is.”
