Orlando Pirates coach Mandla Ncikazi says Boitumelo Radiopane “Radioman” will get his chance in the first team.
Since the beginning of the season, Radioman has been outstanding in the DStv Diski Challenge. In 16 matches, the 19-year-old has found the back of the net 16 times and is the league-leading goal scorer.
With his impressive goalscoring rate, there have been questions on why he is not drafted in the first team.
Ncikazi says Radiopane is in serious competition to play in the first team.
“That one is going to cause one of the coaches to faint or get fired”, said Ncikazi jokingly.
He continued explaining: “The young man is doing well. He is in serious competition to play in the senior team. I would love to play him in the senior team. We have played him in some matches.
“But again, we work in harmony with our DDC team. If we are not guaranteed that he is going to start a match here, we want to give him match minutes; we want to give him game time and develop better when he plays matches.
“He is a good player, and there is more to come from him. I would love to have him and his in the galaxy of strikers that we have.
Radiopane and Mohau Nkota, another lad who has been outstanding for Pirates netting seven goals so far in the Diski Challenge this season, are training with the big boys.
Ncikazi said: “When DDC is not playing, he (Radiopane) trains with the senior team, which is why we want to fast track his development.
“I’m sure he’s going to be a star in the future.”
After 16 Diski Challenge matches, Pirates are sitting comfortably at the top with 39 points. They are six points ahead of second place Stellenbosch FC.
Radiopane is expected to lead Pirates attack again this weekend when they face Cape Town City FC on Sunday at Bidvest Stadium.
The kick-off is at 12h30, (CAT) and the match will be live on SuperSport PSL Channel 202.