Letsholonyane Embarks on Coaching Journey with Botswana’s Matebele FC

Former Bafana Bafana midfielder Reneilwe “Yeye” Letsholonyane has officially stepped into head coaching, taking charge of Botswana Premier League side Matebele FC.

The 43-year-old was unveiled this week as the club’s new head coach on a two-year deal, marking his first major role at the helm after years of cutting his teeth as an assistant in South Africa’s youth and national setups.

For Letsholonyane, the move to Gaborone is the culmination of a two-year journey that began when he completed his CAF A-License in Botswana.

“It has been an ongoing conversation for the past two years,” he told SABC Sport. “After I completed my CAF A-License here, the possibility of coaching in Botswana was always there, but for various reasons it never materialised. Even earlier this year, around December and January, we spoke again—but still, nothing concrete.”

Talks gained momentum in July when Matebele, nicknamed Kuka Ntsu, approached him ahead of their pre-season. Although the timing wasn’t right then, discussions reignited after Letsholonyane featured in this year’s Clash of Legends match.

“Nick, our guy here, mentioned a few teams that were without coaches and connected me with the owner of Matebele,” Yeye explained. “From there, I continued the discussions myself, along with Shabba [Siphiwe Tshabalala]. Initially, I was supposed to be here in late July, during pre-season.”

Now settled into his new role, Letsholonyane inherits a four-year-old club eager to establish itself in Botswana’s top flight. For the midfield maestro turned tactician, it’s the start of a new chapter—one that could define his coaching career.