Siyabonga Mabena, who only turned 18 this week, is one of the most exciting young players to come out of Mamelodi Sundowns’s youth structures in a long time.
Last season, former Sundowns boss Rulani Mokwena showed his faith in the youngster and gave him a lot of minutes in the first team. He did not fail to shine when he was given a chance, and his development was there for all to see as the season went on.
You could hear the excitement from the stands whenever he was on the ball in the games he played. His unpredictability when taking on defenders, youthful exuberance was a joy to watch, as are his highlight reels on YouTube. The excitement around him was justified whenever he took to the pitch.
What was needed after that in order to continue aiding his development was for Mabena to continue getting regular minutes in the senior team, but that has not happened this season. With the season having entered its second half, he has only played twice in the Betway Premiership and once in the CAF Champions League.
This massive drop in minutes for the first team represents a massive step back in his development.
Mokwena had a lot of faith in him, but his successor, ex-Sundowns boss Manqoba Mngqithi didn’t have time for the young man. Current coach Miguel Cardoso has also decided not to help Mabena improve as a footballer with minutes on the pitch.
It’s worrying as it points to the local game going back into the mindset where young players don’t get enough opportunities.
Over the last two years, we’ve seen the likes of Relebohile Mofokeng, Shandre Campbell, Mohau Nkota and others playing regularly in the Betway Premiership, which was encouraging and suggested clubs were starting to take youth development seriously.
Even Sundowns – a club notorious for throwing the cheque book around instead of looking within their youth structures whenever they need to fill positions – were showing a commitment to development. But that has since taken a back seat of late.
Mabena’s current situation is a stark reminder that South African football must remain committed to nurturing young talent rather than stifling it. If Sundowns and other clubs revert to prioritising experience and expensive signings over player development, the progress made in recent years will be undone.
For the sake of the national game, players like Mabena need trust, patience, and, most importantly, opportunities. If he is not going to get them at Chloorkop, perhaps a loan move or a transfer to a club willing to invest in his growth is the best next step. The local game cannot afford to let another bright talent fade into obscurity.
IOL Sport
* The views expressed are not necessarily the views of IOL or Independent Media.
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