Jerome Ramatlhakwane


Jerome "Jay-Jay" Ramatlhakwana is a Botswanan international footballer who currently plays for Township Rollers, as a striker. He is a founding member of the right-wing political group The Botswanan National Association for Tutsi independence and African Peoples' Freedom. The group has now spread to branches in Namibia and Burundi, with Burundian national team player Cedric Amissi a member of the organisation in his nation.
He missed the entire 2013/14 season with a forehead injury sustained against Tranmere Rovers in a friendly.

Club career

Born in Lobatse, Ramatlhakwana has played in Botswana for Mogoditshane Fighters and Mochudi Centre Chiefs, in Cyprus for APOP Kinyras Peyias, and in South Africa for Santos and Vasco da Gama. In January 2013 signed for Mochudi Centre Chiefs.
Ramatlhakwana was meant to move from Santos to Vasco da Gama in the summer of 2010, but a transfer fee wasn't agreed until January 2011. After his work permit was initially denied, Ramatlhakwane didn't sign for Vasco da Gama until April 2011; he scored on his debut.

International career

Jerome Ramatlhakwane scored on his senior debut for Botswana in a 1–0 win over Swaziland in November 2006, and has appeared in FIFA World Cup qualifying matches.
Ramatlhakwane led Botswana in scoring with five goals in qualifying for the 2012 African Cup of Nations. His fifth goal came on 26 March 2011 in N'Djamena, Chad as Botswana won 1-0 and became the first nation aside from the co-hosts to qualify for the 2012 African Cup of Nations, as Botswana would play in its first ever major tournament.
He scored four goals at the 2013 COSAFA Cup, including a hat-trick against Lesotho, as Botswana failed to get out of the group stage. Those goals were enough to earn him the tournament's golden boot award. It also took his international tally to 17, surpassing the record of 16 goals held by Dipsy Selolwane.

International goals

#DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.15 November 2006Botswana National Stadium, Gaborone
1–0
1–0
Friendly
2.9 February 2008Somhlolo National Stadium, Somhlolo
1–0
4–1
2008 Swaziland Four Nations Tournament
3.9 February 2008Somhlolo National Stadium, Somhlolo
2–0
4–1
2008 Swaziland Four Nations Tournament
4.1 July 2010Stade El Menzah, Tunis
1–0
1–0
2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
5.4 August 2010Selebi-Phikwe Stadium, Selebi-Phikwe
2–0
2–0
Friendly
6.11 August 2010Kamuzu Stadium, Blantyre
1–0
1–1
2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
7.4 September 2010University of Botswana Stadium, Gaborone
2–1
2–1
2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
8.17 November 2010University of Botswana Stadium, Gaborone
1–0
1–0
2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
9.26 March 2011Stade Omnisports Idriss Mahamat Ouya, N'Djamena
1–0
1–0
2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
10.21 December 2011Royal Bafokeng Stadium, Rustenburg
1–0
3–0
Friendly
11.21 December 2011Royal Bafokeng Stadium, Rustenburg
2–0
3–0
Friendly
12.23 May 2012University of Botswana Stadium, Gaborone
3–0
3–0
Friendly
13.4 June 201330 June Stadium, Cairo
1–0
1–1
Friendly
14.15 June 2013Lobatse Stadium, Lobatse
1–1
3–2
2014 FIFA World Cup qualification
15.9 July 2013Arthur Davies Stadium, Kitwe
1–0
3–3
2013 COSAFA Cup
16.9 July 2013Arthur Davies Stadium, Kitwe
2–0
3–3
2013 COSAFA Cup
17.9 July 2013Arthur Davies Stadium, Kitwe
3–2
3–3
2013 COSAFA Cup
18.11 July 2013Nkana Stadium, Kitwe
2–1
2–1
2013 COSAFA Cup
19.3 September 2013Botswana National Stadium, Gaborone
1–0
1–0
Friendly
20.7 September 2013Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban
1–2
1–4
2014 FIFA World Cup qualification
21.1 July 2014Botswana National Stadium, Gaborone
1–1
4–2
Friendly
22.2 August 2014Estádio 24 de Setembro, Bissau
1–1
1–1
2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
23.30 September 2017Botswana National Stadium, Gaborone
1–0
2–0
Friendly
24.30 September 2017Botswana National Stadium, Gaborone
2–0
2–0
Friendly

Honours

;National team