Former Bafana Bafana captain Aaron Mokoena has shared his candid thoughts on Rushwin Dortley, a defender for both the national team and Kaizer Chiefs.
Dortley has quickly emerged as one of South Africa’s brightest young talents. The 22-year-old centre-back joined Chiefs from Cape Town Spurs ahead of the 2024/25 season and has immediately made a significant impact.
Dortley has been a regular starter for Chiefs, featuring in all eight of their matches across all competitions.
His impressive performances have also earned him a place in the Bafana Bafana squad, where he has established himself as a key player. The defender has already earned six caps for the national team and played a crucial role in their qualification for consecutive AFCON tournaments.
AARON MOKOENA PRAISES DORTLEY’S RISE BUT WARNS OF CHALLENGES
Mokoena, affectionately known as ‘Mbazo’ during his playing days, is impressed with Dortley’s progress. However, the former defender emphasises the importance of consistent performances and hard work for the young star to reach his full potential.
“It’s a nice progression for the boy from Cape Town. It shows that our development from club level is fantastic,” Mokoena told FARPost. “I think it shows that he’s growing as a player; he’s on the right path. Now he’s even playing for the national team; it’s so great.
“I hope he will keep growing, work hard and put in consistent performances. He’s a calm someone; you can see from a distance that he’s also a leader.”
Mokoena further credited Cape Town Spurs for their hard work in grooming and producing a quality player like Dortley.
“Cape Town Spurs’ development it’s unbelievable, they spend a lot of energy and resources on the young ones. I think they should continue producing such quality, as it will also benefit our national teams from junior levels up to the senior level.”
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