Reneilwe Letsholonyane facts for kids
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Reneilwe Letsholonyane | ||
| Date of birth | 9 June 1982 | ||
| Place of birth | Soweto, South Africa | ||
| Height | 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Meadowlands Porto | |||
| Kagiso Masters | |||
| Pimville Young Stars | |||
| Jomo Cosmos | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2002–2003 | Hellenic FC | ||
| 2003–2004 | Dangerous Darkies | ||
| 2004–2006 | PJ Stars | 49 | (8) |
| 2006–2008 | Jomo Cosmos | 70 | (7) |
| 2008–2016 | Kaizer Chiefs | 183 | (22) |
| 2016–2018 | SuperSport United | 68 | (4) |
| 2019 | Highlands Park | 11 | (0) |
| 2020–2021 | TS Galaxy | 11 | (0) |
| Total | 374 | (40) | |
| International career | |||
| 2008–2019 | South Africa | 50 | (2) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Reneilwe "Yeye" Letsholonyane (born 9 June 1982) is a South African retired professional soccer player. He played as a midfielder and was known for his skill in the middle of the field. He also played for the South Africa national team.
Contents
Early Life and Soccer Beginnings
Reneilwe Letsholonyane grew up in White City, Jabavu, which is a part of Soweto. As a young boy, he started playing with a rugby ball, showing his early love for sports.
His soccer talent really started to shine when he was at Morris Isaacson High School. During this time, he began playing for Jomo Cosmos. His parents were not sure if he could make a living from soccer because they thought it would be a short career. However, they still supported him. His first pair of soccer boots were Puma SE Rangers, which his parents bought for him.
Club Career Highlights
Letsholonyane mostly played in smaller leagues before joining Jomo Cosmos in 2006.
Playing for Kaizer Chiefs
Two years later, in 2008, he signed with Kaizer Chiefs. He joined the team under coach Muhsin Ertugral. Reneilwe quickly became a very important player for the team, even though he often faced injuries.
He made his first appearance for Kaizer Chiefs on 30 August 2008. This was in a match they lost 2–1 against Thanda Royal Zulu. He almost scored in that game with a powerful shot that hit the crossbar.
Letsholonyane scored the winning penalty in the 2008 MTN 8 final. This helped Chiefs win the cup 4–3 against Mamelodi Sundowns. After this big win, he was called up to play for the national team for the first time.
Challenges and Triumphs
During the 2011–12 season, Reneilwe missed many games. He got a knee injury while playing for the national team. Because of this, he only played in 13 league matches for Kaizer Chiefs that season.
In the 2012–13 season, Chiefs won both the league and a cup. Letsholonyane played in 26 league matches and scored three goals, showing his strong comeback.
In the 2013–14 season, he faced another injury scare. His leg was hurt during a game against Lamontville Golden Arrows. Luckily, he only strained his ligaments and was out for a short time.
Key Goals and Awards
Reneilwe scored in the MTN 8 quarter-final against Mpumalanga Black Aces. This goal came very early in the game, helping Chiefs win 4–0. He was also named Man of the Match for his great performance.
He scored his first league goal of the 2014–15 season in a 2–1 win against Mpumalanga Black Aces. He also scored in the MTN8 semi-final, helping Chiefs get a big lead. He won his second Man of the Match award in that tournament.
Letsholonyane scored two goals against University of Pretoria on 13 September 2014, leading his team to a 2–1 victory. He also scored an important goal that helped his team draw 1–1 against Moroka Swallows.
On 1 July 2021, Reneilwe Letsholonyane announced that he was retiring from professional soccer.
International Career
Reneilwe Letsholonyane started playing for the South Africa team in 2008. His first game was in September 2008 against Malawi in Germiston.
He scored his second goal for South Africa in a big 5–0 win against Guatemala on 31 May 2010. He was also part of the national team that played in the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Later, he played in the 2013 African Cup of Nations.
He reached a special milestone when he played his 50th game for South Africa. This happened in a 2–1 win against Sudan during a qualifier for the 2015 African Cup of Nations.
Personal Life
Reneilwe has a younger brother named Ruben, who is also a soccer player. Reneilwe lives in Fourways, Johannesburg. He has mentioned that he misses the close community feeling of the townships, where neighbours often help each other out.
His father, Andrew Ramogangwane Letsholonyane, passed away on 16 February 2015 at the age of 59. Reneilwe is divorced.
Career Statistics
International Goals
The table below shows the goals Reneilwe Letsholonyane scored for the South Africa national team.
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 31 May 2010 | Peter Mokaba Stadium, Polokwane, South Africa |  Guatemala |
2–0 | 5–0 | Friendly |
| 2 | 15 November 2013 | Somhlolo National Stadium, Lobamba, Swaziland |  Swaziland |
2–0 | 3–0 | Friendly |
Honours and Achievements
Reneilwe Letsholonyane won many titles during his career with different clubs.
Kaizer Chiefs
- Premier Soccer League: 2012–13, 2014–15
- MTN 8: 2008, 2014
- Telkom Knockout: 2009, 2010
- Telkom Charity Cup: 2010
- Nedbank Cup: 2013
- Carling Black Label Cup: 2013
SuperSport United
- MTN 8: 2017
- Nedbank Cup: 2016–17
See also
In Spanish: Reneilwe Letsholonyane para niños
