When thinking of exciting youngsters in the DStv Premiership, the name of Relebohile Mofokeng is likely to top that list, and Orlando Pirates legend Joseph Makhanya urges other upcoming players to mirror the Buccaneers' budding star.
Mofokeng is currently enjoying pre-season in Spain with Pirates where he started in a 2-2 friendly match against English side Plymouth this past Friday.
Pirates’ DStv Diski Challenge (DDC) team head coach, Makhanya, may not be sure whether he will be retained in his role, but if he gets the nod, ‘Duku Duku’ plans to produce more players like Mofokeng.
“Being a DDC coach is something I look forward to because the platform I’ve been given is to make sure that there are more Reles that are coming,” said Makhanya.
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“I am hoping that there are still players who are hungry and my job is not to give them talent but to make sure that they are polished and maybe half-cooked for the first team because the only time they will get ready is when they are given that platform.
“If they are to look at Rele and some of the players who have graduated from the DDC, they have to maintain their hunger and their talent properly then we can get more Reles, which is something that we strive for.
Meanwhile, a number of former players have taken up coaching posts in the DStv Premiership with little experience and often get exposed in the dog-eat-dog world. Makhanya wants to be brewed, distilled, and moulded by the hands of those who have walked this path before he takes up a coaching gig in the premier division.
“I would like to believe that I am not yet ready,” said Makhanya.
“I still need to be mentored and I still need to find people who I can work under so that I am mentored properly because, at the end of the day, I want to believe that playing soccer is another experience which can be beneficial when you are coaching.
“You can be able to assist the players with the insight because as an ex-footballer, you know what players have to do in certain incidents because football is about problem-solving,” ‘Duku Duku’ concluded.
Meanwhile, the Buccaneers are set to take on seven-time Europa League champions and LaLiga heavyweights Sevilla on Monday night as Jose Riveior continues to sharpen the saw ahead of the 2024/25 season.
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Our Sunday late night training session ahead of today's
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