Mamelodi Sundowns boss Manqoba Mngqithi has earmarked 20-year-old defender Malibongwe Khoza for a stellar season.
The youngster has been a standout performer in the reserve league, playing a pivotal role in the team’s title push.
Khoza, who joined teammates Kutlwano Letlhaku and Siyabonga Mabena on the club’s pre-season tour of Austria, has shown immense potential according to Mngqithi. The coach is confident the defender is ready to make a significant impact in the first team this campaign.
“We have a lot of youngsters in the first team, and they improve the tempo of the training, the intensity of the training is already at a very good level and these young boys are looking to dribble anyone, anyhow,” he said on Masandawana’s Pitchside podcast.
“They are getting stronger every day, they are getting kicked by the senior players, nobody wants to be dribbled by these youngsters, so the spirit of the game is getting stronger every day in training, ah Mabena, Kutlwano… [players thinking] what [are they] going to do [today]?
One other player that not many people are talking about that has really had a good pre-season is Malibongwe, the centre-back, I think the boy is going to be something else, I think the boy will surprise a lot of people. Don’t be surprised if you see him starting a match and a big match for that matter.
“He is showing very good signs, technically he is very good, he’s strong aerially, and he looks slow, but he’s not the slowest of players. But he’s also intelligent and brave.”
The Brazilians are currently gearing up for their MTN8 quarterfinal clash against Polokwane City on Sunday, August 11, at 15:00.