Pitso Mosimane’s Soccer Schools programme (PMSS) coach Brilliant Mashao has expressed his views about Amajimbos‘ hot property Siyabonga Mabena.
Mabena, who is only 15 years old is currently in Malawi with South Africa’s U17 side for the ongoing Region 5 Games tournament; COSAFA U17 Championship.
The striker has catch the attention of many as he has been scoring goals for fun in the competition.
Mabena is the top goal scorer in the Championship with six goals for Amajimbos.
And Mashao, one of the coaches at PMSS, a programme that aims to develop and create ‘the player of tomorrow’ says Mabena must be protected.
The School Of Excellence product, Mabena is playing his football in the Gauteng Development League.
According to recent reports, the talented player has already been signed by Mamelodi Sundowns, who were in the race for Mabena’s signature with Orlando Pirates.
MASHAO ON THE RISE OF MABENA…
“First of all, we should protect such talent because these young players, some of them are in the adolescent stage and there are a lot of things that are happening in their lives,” Mashao told FARPost.
“So, I think for him to be consistent, we must make sure we guide him in the right direction because fame and being successful at a young age and scoring goals like this might get into his head and think that I’m there and I have achieved [made it in life].
“We need to be there to support such kind of players to say to them that you can even go further than this and instil that belief in them.
“And also say this is not where you should end in Africa, you must go to Europe and big teams just like Percy Tau and others,” added Mashao, who is also the leading Curro Meridian Cosmo City school coach.
Curro is the school that recently partnered with PMSS.
Meanwhile, Duncan Crowie’s charges will take on the hosts Malawi in the semifinal on Friday evening (21:30) after finishing second in Group B of the tournament.
A win will see SA U17 qualify for the 2023 U17 Africa Cup of Nations [AFCON] due to take place in Algeria.
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