Amajimbos assistant coach Aaron Mokoena has highlighted how best South African football youngsters can be protected.
The former Bafana Bafana captain reckons the young players of today get easily caught up with the wrong things, especially when they get into the limelight.
He insists that youngsters should be treated with the proper guidance because fame can change some and make them think they have arrived.
Mokoena said that the players themselves need to take greater responsibility for their future if they want to succeed in their football careers.
The ex-Blackburn Rovers defender pinpointed that getting “the right agency and right football management team” would help lots of the country’s future football stars.
how best to protect SA’s youngsters
“It is all about getting the right agency and management team that understands football development. And football development is not about playing on the playing field only; it is holistic,” Mokoena told FARPost.
“You manage football and financial aspects but simultaneously realise that a 15-year-old player has to go through things, and school is involved. These kids get into trouble by mixing with the wrong people, and where do you get the wrong people? It is out there in our locations.
“Yes, we grew up with friends, and I’m not saying that they must not mix with other people. However, managing that talent in a way that would see the future is quite tricky. It’s like parenting a child.
THE RIGHT ENVIRONMENT…
The 42-year-old mentor further stated that these young players need to be in a conducive environment to have long-lasting careers.
“These youngsters need a homey environment. Once you have kids, you know how to parent them, what to give and say to them,” he explained.
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