Morena Ramoreboli has credited former Bloemfontein Celtic man Lebo Kholoane for his recent successes in Botswana.
Ramoreboli’s star continues to rise, with his latest achievement guiding the Zebras to their second-ever AFCON appearance next year in Morocco.
After winning two league titles with Jwaneng Galaxy, Ramoreboli was tasked with leading Botswana’s national team in their final two 2025 AFCON qualifiers. This came after the sudden departure of French coach Didier Gomes Da Rosa.
His first challenge was a home draw against Mauritania, setting the stage for a crucial away match against Egypt in Cairo. The Zebras managed a remarkable draw in the Egyptian capital, securing their place in the upcoming AFCON tournament.
This will be Botswana’s second AFCON appearance, their first being in 2012. Ramoreboli has attributed this success to the contributions of his South African analyst, Kholoane.
The duo’s successful partnership extends beyond the national team, as they have achieved significant success together at Jwaneng Galaxy, winning domestic titles and making impressive runs in the CAF Champions League.
WHAT RAMOREBOLI SAID ABOUT KHOLOANE’S WORK
“That man is very important to me, and he’s one of the top analysts in the continent,” Ramoreboli told FARPost. “He researches a lot. He analyses, he loves his job and is very committed to it. You don’t remind him. He will always push and get things done.
“Having him around me has helped a lot because I know I can rely on him. I sometimes watch two games [of the opponent], let him watch three, and then we discuss.
“He even knows what I want in a game. The understanding between me and him is so huge that he knows how I think and what I want in a game. He knows what I believe in.
“Having him around me is a blessing, honestly. Even the players enjoy working with him because he’s an honest person. He’ll tell you you’re doing well. When you’re not doing well, he’ll also let you know.
“He has a bright future, and what I like about him is his humility. He’ll achieve great things because of his humility.”
LEBO KHOLOANE’S JOURNEY AS AN ANALYST
Interestingly, Kholoane’s career began in 2018 after graduating from the University of the Free State with a degree in Sports Science.
His journey started at Celtic, where he worked as a physical conditioner for the development teams. He quickly progressed to the senior squad as Chief Analyst, contributing to a notable achievement: Celtic’s first top-eight finish in four years.
The following season, under the guidance of John Maduka and Lehlohonolo Seema, the team reached the Nedbank Cup final, though they ultimately fell short against Mamelodi Sundowns.
Kholoane then joined Chippa United, working alongside head coach Seema. During a challenging period marked by the COVID-19 pandemic, he played a crucial role in keeping the team in the top flight and guiding them to another Nedbank Cup final, where they faced TTM.
A planned move to Golden Arrows didn’t materialise. But Kholoane soon found himself in Botswana with Jwaneng Galaxy, led by coach Morena Ramoreboli. This partnership proved successful, with the team qualifying for the CAF Champions League group stage, a significant achievement considering they outperformed giants like Simba.
Kholoane’s impressive work earned him a call-up to the Botswana national team, the Zebras, for their 2023 AFCON qualifier against Equatorial Guinea.
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