What Hugo Broos told American club coach about Bongokuhle Hlongwane
America’s Minnesota United coach Adrian Heath has revealed what Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos told him about budding striker Bongokuhle Hlongwane.
Broos reportedly told Heath that what he had seen in Hlongwane was just the tip of the iceberg of his huge talent.
“He’s got huge upside; he’s now broken into the South African national team, and we’ve spoken to his national team coach and he says it’s only the tip of the iceberg for what’s to come,” Heath told the Minnesota website.
“He will be a work in progress for the club, but his physical attributes, his raw talent and his football intelligence are impressive.”
PACE MAKES BONGOKUHLE HLONGWANE SPECIAL
Heath said players of Hlongwane’s pace and trickery were a nightmare to defenders.
“Ask any defender what scares them and who the hardest players to mark are, and inevitably, its someone with intelligent movement and pace and we feel he possesses both of these qualities,” he added.
“He has absolutely explosive pace, but he also looks to combine and build with his teammates. We love his raw talents, but his football IQ is exceptional.”
Minnesota signed the 21-year-old mid-this year from Maritzburg United on a two-year contract.
Hlongwane provided a fresh reminder that he could become the next big thing for South Africa football after netting a brace for Bafana Bafana in their 2-0 win over Mozambique last week in a friendly.
Hlongwane joined Minnesota after spending his professional career at Maritzburg.
He made his professional debut while aged 18 and registered eight goals and seven assists with the Team of Choice.
He scored his first professional goal in June of 2019 against Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila.
Hlongwane earned the PSL Player of the Season award nomination in the 2020-21 season.
The striker debuted for Bafana and has four goals in seven appearances for the national team.
FACT-FILE:
Name: Bongokuhle Hlongwane
Position: Forward
Date of birth: 06.20.2000 (21 years old)
Height: 6’0”
Weight: 165 lbs
Last Club: Maritzburg United
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