Kaizer Chiefs have officially confirmed the unexpected transfer of defender Thatayaone Ditlhokwe to Libyan Premier League powerhouse Al–Ittihad.
Ditlhokwe, a 26-year-old from Botswana and the captain of his national team, Dipitse (The Zebras), made the move to Chiefs at the start of the 2023-24 season from SuperSport United.
He joined on a free transfer 18 months ago, and his time with the club has been a mix of highs and lows. Over the course of his 18-month stint with Amakhosi, Ditlhokwe made 32 appearances in all competitions.
Initially, he was a regular fixture in central defence, but as the season progressed, he found himself adapting to new roles, even stepping in as a left-back under head coach Nasreddine Nabi. His versatility, particularly at left-back, has seen him become a consistent performer for the team over the past couple of months.
However, his departure has come as a surprise to many, given his recent form. The towering centre-back had previously fallen out of favor after a deadline-day move to Magesi failed to materialize, but he worked hard to regain his place in the squad and earned his spot in the starting lineup once more.
His sudden exit leaves a gap in the squad, though the club has already moved to address this by bringing in Dove Edmilson, who is nearing a return to full fitness.
In a statement on the club’s official website, Chiefs confirmed that Ditlhokwe’s departure is imminent. He will leave for Tripoli this weekend after playing his final match for the club in the 1-0 victory over Stellenbosch last Friday in Cape Town.
“It was not an easy decision for us when Al-Ittihad approached us regarding TT,” says Sporting Director, Kaizer Motaung Jr. on the club’s website, “We engaged the player and during our discussions, he expressed his desire to move to Libya for further experience and opportunities.
As a Club, we didn’t want to impede his progress, and we appreciate his professionalism and discipline. Although we will miss him, we believe this is a fantastic opportunity for him, and we would like to thank him for his dedicated service to Chiefs and wish him the best of luck in his new venture.”
Affectionately known as ‘TT,’ Ditlhokwe’s time at Chiefs is now coming to a close, as he prepares to meet his new teammates and coaches in the Libyan capital, where he will begin the next chapter of his career with Al-Ittihad. Fans and teammates alike will no doubt miss his contributions, but the club has already set their sights on the future with Edmilson poised to take on a more prominent role.