Former Kaizer Chiefs midfield general Reneilwe Letsholonyane said to become a fan-favourite at the Soweto giants what was key from him was to hit the floor running as soon as the season started.
Letsholonyane joined Chiefs from Jomo Cosmos ahead of the 2008/09 season with the late Jeffery Ntuka, Thabang Rooi, Gordon Gilbert, Punch Masenamela, Dominic Isaacs, Valery Nahayo (who also joined from Cosmos), Ibe Ogbonna, while Thela “Ngobeni” Thela and Wayne Matle were promoted from the development.
Josta Dladla and Abia Nale followed in the second half of the season, as coach Muhsin Ertugral bolstered his squad for the Soweto giants.
But Yeye, who was a key player from Cosmos, quickly became the favourite at Chiefs, offering them the creative spark both deep and in the attack.
It quickly yielded results as Chiefs beat Mamelodi Sundowns in the MTN8 final at Kings Park Stadium in Durban early in that season.
Impressively, Letsholonyane scored the winning penalty, sending Brian Baloyi the wrong way as Trott Moloto’s boys from Pretoria lost.
It was significant as Chiefs became the first club to win the Wafa Wafa Cup after telecommunication replaced SAA as the sponsor.
“For my sake and for anyone that comes and quickly adjusts to that space, supporters are impatient and also you need to be focused quickly, get used to the environment, get used to how the team wants to play, get the ball rolling and get the results,’’ said Letsholonyane at the Sasko event held in uMlazi in Durban on Friday.
Interestingly, Chiefs meet the all conquering Mamelodi Sundowns in the MTN8 semi-final first leg at FNB Stadium on Saturday, the venue Letsholonyane knows well.
Yeye, during his time at Chiefs, won three Telkom Knockouts, two league titles and two MTN8 trophies – including in the season of the 2014/15 when Stuart Baxter’s side beat Pirates in the final. That was the last time Chiefs won a knockout competition.
Chiefs completed the double in that term as they won the league title under the British-born coach, which was the last time the Soweto giants popped the champagne aloft to celebrate a trophy.
They are seeking to end that. While Chiefs were on top of the Tshwane giants then, things have swung hugely in Sundowns’ favour as they are the top dogs in the country now, having won the league title in six successive seasons.
Chiefs have a mountain to climb to beat Rulani Mokwena’s side, who have pristinely won the opening six league matches, sitting pretty on top of the DStv Premiership standings, and are unbeaten in 30 successive league matches.
Sundowns beat Chiefs 2-1 on penalties in the quarter-finals of the 2021/22 season and 4-0 at the same stage in the 2012/13 campaign.
