AmaZulu coach Brandon Truter has revealed what his first conversation with new signing Ethan Brooks will be. The Durban outfit confirmed the capture of the national team midfielder on Friday.
His new coach Truter told FARPost he has been following the 20-year-old’s budding career. He burst onto the scene in December 2020 in a 2–0 defeat to Mamelodi Sundowns as he made 12 appearances in total across the 2020–21 season.
Last season, he featured in five World Cup qualifying matches, including starting the crunch away match against West African powerhouse Ghana.
However, in the heat of the relegation battle, TS Galaxy coach Sead Ramovic dropped him to the bench, citing there would be no “free ticket” for the highly-rated youngster. Truter noted that the relegation battle and lack of game time may have affected his new signing.
He is also aware that the player is hoping the move to the KwaZulu-Natal-based side will provide him with the right boost and new environment to regain his Bafana Bafana place after being left out of the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifier against Morocco.
“A young boy of his calibre, he has a few caps, played on an international stage, so is the qualities he has that would add to the squad and our ambitions this season. This is a good signing for us.
“With so much pressure on him [last season], fighting relegation, his name was mentioned regarding his inclusion in the Bafana team. For a youngster, comments like that can make or break him.
“These are all challenges that will make him stronger down the line in becoming more complete. He’s still young and has a lot to learn, but the talent and potential are there,” he told FARPost.
Brandon Truter promised to give the youngster a platform “to perform”. The two are scheduled to meet at the start of pre-season early next month, and the former Swallows coach has indicated that he would love to know about the player’s thoughts regarding the national team.
“He’s very young, and there will be opportunities to get back to the national team. It’s a process now, and I think that will be our first meeting about his plans and objectives [as well as] how he is going to reach that objective.
“It’s now to get back to a good level and start to enjoy football.”
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