Mamelodi Sundowns coach Rulani Mokwena has picked the one star whose footsteps must be followed by rookie Siyabonga Mabena.
The Mamelodi Sundowns coach unleashed the rookie, Siyabonga Mabena, in March against Royal AM, and the 17-year-old did not disappoint.
Rulani Mokwena went on to compare the budding player to the late midfield maestro, Gift Leremi.
The Masandawana rookie Siyabonga Mabena had been in the Mamelodi Sundowns ranks since December 2022.
He joined from The School of Excellence, where he had been a cut above the rest. Recently the rookie Siyabonga Mabena took part in the Under-17 Africa Cup of Nations held in Algeria.
And despite the massive hype he has received since his DStv Premiership debut, the rookie Mabena has done well to absorb the pressure.
A lot is expected from Siyabonga Mabena going into the future, and the Mamelodi Sundowns mentor believes the rookie has a lot to learn.
WHO IS THE BEST PERSON TO TEACH SIYABONGA MABENA
And for him, team captain Themba Zwane is the best man to help Siyabonga Mabena reach his full potential.
“He is probably the best number 10 in the country. We all know he does well behind the main striker.
“Who is best to teach Mabena how to play behind the strikers? It’s Mshishi [Themba Zwane].
“He [Siyabonga Mabena] will obviously learn more from him [Themba Zwane] more than me.
“My job is coaching. He gets training, teaching and development,” Mokwena said in a Mamelodi Sundowns podcast.
Themba Zwane has already taken the teenager under his wing, ensuring that he learns what is expected from him.
“I got the best advice from Themba Zwane. He told me to stay focused and neglect all the outside noise. He told me to stay focused and always grounded,” Mabena told the media while in the Amajimbos camp.
“Themba Zwane is a player that I look up to. When I started at the School of Excellence, I was always looking up to him,” Mabena explained.
“To share a changing room with him and other players is really encouraging for me. There’s hope that one day I’ll be able to achieve what they’ve achieved in their respective careers.”
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