Kaizer Chiefs centre-back Thatayaone Ditlhokwe has officially signed with Libyan giants Al-Ittihad for a transfer fee reported to be R15 million.
The 26-year-old Botswana international joined Amakhosi in 2023 but struggled to secure a regular spot in the starting lineup. After Nasreddine Nabi took over as head coach last year and made four new defensive signings, it seemed Ditlhokwe’s time with Chiefs was coming to an end. However, following Miguel Inacio’s suspension, Ditlhokwe made his first appearance of the season late last year.
Impressing Nabi, he was shifted to left-back and excelled in the new role. Despite his strong performances, Ditlhokwe’s surprise move to Al-Ittihad marks the end of his time at Chiefs.
Chiefs’ sporting director, Kaizer Motaung Jr., shared that the decision to let Ditlhokwe go wasn’t easy.
“It wasn’t an easy decision for us when Al-Ittihad approached us about TT,” Motaung Jr. said. “We spoke with the player, and he expressed his desire to move to Libya for more experience and opportunities. As a club, we didn’t want to hold him back, and we appreciate his professionalism and discipline.”
A Fond Farewell
“Although we will miss him, we believe this is a great opportunity for him, and we want to thank him for his dedicated service to Chiefs and wish him all the best in his new adventure,” he added.
What This Means for Kaizer Chiefs
With Ditlhokwe’s departure, Chiefs now have only Given Msimango as a backup centre-back. This opens up a chance for former Golden Arrows star Bradley Cross, who had lost his starting spot due to injury and had struggled to reclaim it because of Ditlhokwe’s form. His move to Al-Ittihad will likely give Cross more game time, benefiting his development in the long run.
