Bucs legend Makhanya says PSL coaches’ bold moves paying off
Orlando Pirates DStv Diski Challenge [DDC] coach Joseph Makhanya has identified a key factor contributing to the success of youth development within PSL clubs.
DDC celebrated its 10th anniversary in December 2024, discovering and fostering South Africa’s most talented football players.
According to MultiChoice, more than 350 players have advanced through the DDC levels to become professionals since 2014.
This initiative has produced football superstars who went on to represent South Africa in leagues across England, Morocco, and Egypt. This involves players like Lyle Forster, Cassius Mailula, and Percy Tau, to name a few.
The PSL youth league has also served as a springboard for numerous players now excelling in the Betway Premiership, including Relebohile Mofokeng, Mduduzi Shabalala, Mohau Nkota, Mfundo Vilakazi, and Samkelo Zwane, among others.
JOSEPH MAKHANYA GIVES CREDIT TO PSL COACHES FOR GIVING DDC YOUNGSTERS A CHANCE
The key element Makhanya points out is the willingness of PSL coaches to take risks with young players, even at the potential cost of their own jobs. He highlights the pressure to deliver results in the Betway Premiership, which often discourages coaches from giving youngsters opportunities.
Makhanya suggests that those coaches who do take that risk are a crucial part of the youth development success story.
Mofokeng serves as a prime example, playing a pivotal role in Pirates’ recent successes. His contributions include scoring the winning goal against Mamelodi Sundowns in last season’s MTN8 final, playing a key part in their Nedbank Cup triumph, and helping the team reach the knockout stage of the CAF Champions League.
His impressive performances have earned him a place in the Bafana Bafana squad and even attracted interest from top international clubs, including Barcelona.
Makhanya went on to state that this says a lot about the future of SA football, citing that it will yield fruitful results when the Under-20 national team heads to the AFCON tournament.
“It tells you about a whole lot of work that has been done down here in the DDC. And again, you have to give credit to the coaches in the top flight who are brave enough to play them [youngsters] because now the coaches in the first teams are also under pressure to produce results,” said Makhanya.
“So, sometimes it’s difficult to play a young kid who you don’t know what’s he going to give you. But again, we have to trust their judgement and the confidence that they give to these players.
“If you were to check and go to each and every team, you go to Chiefs. For example, there’s Mfundo Vilakazi and Mduduzi Shabalala, who are products of DDC. You then go to Pirates, there’s Mohau Nkota, and Relebohile Mofokeng, who are also DDC products, and now Mbekezeli Mbokazi is training with the first team. We are also prepared to lose him to the first team. If one day they say they don’t have a player, he should be ready to step up and play for the senior team.”
‘THEY ARE COMPROMISING THEIR JOBS’, SAYS JOSEPH MAKHANYA ON PSL COACHES
Makhanya continued: “So, it’s all about preparations and kudos to the coaches that are brave enough to play these young players because it means now they are also compromising their jobs. But also, if we are playing these kids, it says a lot about the future of our country because we’re going to play AFCON U-20 and a whole lot of players need to do well and be ready to step up our nation.”
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