Reneilwe Letsholonyane: Former Kaizer Chiefs Star Opens Up About Exit and Steve Komphela’s Era

• Reneilwe Letsholonyane has opened up about his Kaizer Chiefs departure
• The former Bafana star was plagued by a knee inury that impacted his form
• The midfielder spent eight remarkable years at Amakhosi, winning nine trophies

Former Bafana Bafana star, Reneilwe Letsholonyane, has delved into the reasons behind his departure from Kaizer Chiefs

The midfielder spent eight remarkable years at Amakhosi, clinching nine trophies, including two DStv Premiership titles.

His move to SuperSport United saw him add the MTN8 and Nedbank Cup to his collection before retiring from professional football in 2021 to pursue coaching.

In a recent interview, the legend opened up about the regrets that lingered with him after he decided to leave the Glamour Boys in 2016.

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Despite the successes achieved with the club, Letsholonyane disclosed a sense of unease upon his exit attributing part of this discomfort to a lingering knee injury that plagued his final season.

Reflecting on his contribution during Steve Komphela's inaugural season as Chiefs' coach, he expressed personal disappointment while acknowledging the challenges faced by black coaches in the industry and the weight of expectation placed upon them.

"It was always [the narrative] that foreign coaches are the best coaches, so I felt disappointed in myself, the coach, the supporters. And with self-introspection of what went wrong besides the injuries, I was in a comfort zone and I didn’t like that," he explained, as quoted by iDiski Times.

Letsholonyane confessed that while he couldn't speak for the entire squad, he grappled with letting down his coach. He acknowledged his desire for growth and challenge, which prompted his move to SuperSport.

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The 41-year-old completed his CAF A Licence Coaching diploma while coaching at AmaZulu FC. h completed his CAF Licence in South Africa in 2021, continued his studies with a CAF C Licence in Zambia in 2022, and culminated his coaching education with the CAF A Licence in Botswana in 2023.

“Being accepted in Botswana was a moment of joy for me. The coaching course taught me to understand the rationale behind my coaching actions, covering aspects such as behaviour, work ethic, and attitude,” he told The Daily Sun.

Letsholonyane bids farewell to AmaZulu

Sports Brief reported that Letsholonyane bid farewell to AmaZulu Football Club.

The Kaizer Chiefs legend, affectionately known as 'Yeye,' shared his sentiments through a goodbye letter to the club, expressing gratitude for the experience gained during his tenure.

Letsholonyane's journey with AmaZulu began last season when he was appointed to mentor the under-17 side as part of the club's Vision 2032 initiative.