Yeye raises ‘kasi’ football issues

Reneilwe ‘Yeye’ Letsholonyane has pointed out what he believes need to change about the culture of township football.

Letsholonyane raised his voice during the Doctor Khumalo Ultimate Champs tournament that was held in Dube on Sunday.

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The retired midfielder watched the proceedings along with Lucas Radebe, Siphiwe Tshabalala, Edward Motale and his younger brother Japie with Orlando West Academy Under-19 walking away with R15 000 after overcoming Gauteng Select 3-2 in the final.

"This might sound controversial, but in the past few years our football took a shift especially in kasi and took a direction of being strictly entertaining (all about showboat)," says Letsholonyane.

"It makes it difficult for scouts or people in well-structured football or professional set-up to come search for talent in kasi especially Soweto because players have habits that are difficult to change.

"We still have a lot of talent.

"I watch a lot of football around Soweto, and you could see there is potential.

"Like I said, our challenge is that element of entertaining for the sake of it.

"Where scouts want to go is for business plus having the reality of playing at the highest level,” explains Letsholonyane, who is still supportive of the township flavour. 

"Kasi flavour is one of our strengths as a country because we are one of the countries that has talented players honestly.

"But it’s how you do whatever on the field (with the ball), at what time and where that matters.

"The educational part comes in with coaching education, and for players to understand the game itself not just entertainment.

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"We must do certain things at certain moments