Pogiso Sanoka addresses Ime Okon’s potential departure

SuperSport United Pogiso Sanoka has made an honest admission about his teammate Ime Okon, who is linked with a transfer move abroad.

The highly-rated defender has been on trial with Dynamo Kyiv in the top-flight of Ukraine, as reported by SABC Sport most recently.

Okon broke into the senior team of SuperSport at the start of the 2023/24 Betway Premiership season after impressing in the club’s DStv Diski Challenge [DDC] side. In his first season in the Premiership, Okon featured in 33 matches in all competitions and scored one goal.

The 20-year-old has proven to be one of the key defenders at SuperSport with his robust defensive abilities, leadership skills and scoring goals.

Okon was a nominee for the Young Player of the Season in the 2024 PSL Awards alongside Orlando Pirates attacker Relebohile Mofokeng and Shandre Campbell, who has since completed a move to Belgium in July 2024. Mofokeng subsequently won the Young Player of the Season accolade.

POGISO SANOKA REVEALS OKON’S QUALITIES THAT COULD MAKE HIM SUCCEED OVERSEAS

With Ime Okon aiming to impress at Dynamo Kyiv and earn a contract, Sanoka says the youngster has all the qualities to make it overseas.

“I think, to be honest, he has great qualities; this is because I played with him, and I have an idea about him. I’ve seen him play for quite some time now,” Sanoka said.

“He will make a great defender, not only for us in South Africa but in Europe. I think he will adapt very well. He’s a fast learner, and he’s very good. We wish him all the best, and we hope that everything goes well for him.”

In the current campaign, Okon has registered eight matches under his name in all competitions as SuperSport continue to struggle for a consistent winning form.

The South African-born defender is competing with Sanoka, Thulani Hlatshwayo, Bilal Baloyi and Lyema Dopolo in the centre-back position.

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