It’s always an honour to play for my country – Letsholonyane
Bafana Bafana's reverse fixture against Congo, today.
When many thought his international had come to an abrupt end, Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Reneilwe ”Yeye” Letsholonyane put in the extra work at his club and was rewarded with a call-up to the Bafana Bafana squad who faces Congo in back-to-back CAF Orange Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2015 qualifiers.
So excellent has Letsholonyane been on the field that he is now the top goal-scorer in the Premier Soccer League (PSL), with four strikes in seven matches.
He shares the lead with four others, his club mate Mandla Masango, Lerato Chabangu (Moroka Swallows), David Zulu (Chippa United) and Moeketsi Sekola (Free State Stars).
Both Masango and Zulu are also on national team duty with Letsholonyane.
“It is good to be back; it is always lovely representing your country, for me it’s an honour,” said Lestholonyane.
“Every time I am given an opportunity to don the national team jersey I will do so with pride.
“I will do my best to try to give the same performance as I have been giving at Chiefs, because, frankly, I wouldn’t be here if I was not playing well for my club.
”I will keep on working hard and help the national team.”
The 32-year-old midfielder is the most capped player in the current national squad.
He has made 48 appearances, while the closest to him is Tokelo Rantie with 22, then Dean Furman on 20.
Andile Jali comes in with 17, Oupa Manyisa and Thulani Serero are both on 15 while Eric Mathoho and Thabo Matlaba have 11 caps each.
The rest of the players have played fewer than 10 matches for South Africa, while some haven’t been capped, such as Dumisani Msibi, Rivaldo Coetzee, Kwanda Mngonyama, Fagrie Lakay and Zulu.
Letsholonyane, who was left out of the squad that faced Sudan and Nigeria, is enjoying working with Mashaba.
“Coaches are not the same and, yes, Shakes is different from all the other coaches I have played under and he is bringing about a positive attitude in the national team,” he said.
“What I saw is a new energy; the youngsters are buzzing and motivated to represent their country and I am happy with what I have seen so far.”
Bafana Bafana played against Congo, in the first leg, on Saturday, October 11, and won 2-0 to go top of Group A.
The reverse leg will be played today, October 15, at the Peter Mokaba Stadium, in Polokwane.
Kick-off is at 8.05pm.
