First team watch

The number of DStv Diski Challenge players roped to train with their respective PSL first continues to grow.

Here we look at the young prospects who have caught the eye of senior team coaches from the reserve league in the past seven days.

MAMELODI SUNDOWNS

Diski Challenge leading goal scorer Jerome Karelse finally made his first-team debut.

Karelse, who has been training for Sundowns' first team, made his elite league debut in Sundowns' 1-0 win over Orlando Pirates on Saturday at Orlando Stadium.

He was introduced towards the end of the match against The Buccaneers. After the match, he n flew to Durban to join the Diski Challenge team. He arrived in Durban on Saturday evening and started the Diski Challenge match against Richards Bay FC, where Sundowns lost 1-0.

SUPERSPORT UNITED

Gape Moralo, Tendamudzimu Matodzi and Bilal Baloyi are all training with the first team following a good run in the Diski challenge this past weekend.

Baloyi was given first team debut on Wednesday night when SuperSport played against Dondol Stars in the Nedbank Cup. He started the match, and he did reasonably well as a centre-back despite them losing the game 2-1. Moralo and Matodzi were unused substitutes on Wednesday.

GOLDEN ARROWS

Arrows coach Japhet Zwane confirmed to the website that impressive Samukelo Mzolo and Diski Challenge captain Sandile Ndlovu are training with the first team. However, the duo are yet to be part of the first team matchday squad.

TS GALAXY

Nkosikhona Radebe – after scoring his first PSL goal against Golden Arrows, Radebe was part of the first team matchday squad and started on the bench against Kaizer Chiefs on Sunday. He was thrown in with four minutes remaining against Chiefs and could not contribute much as the match ended 0-0.

KAIZER CHIEFS

Aden McCarthy has been joined by Puso Dithejane and Siyabonga Gumede in the Chiefs' first team. Chiefs' coach Vela Khumalo confirmed that Dithejane and Gumede were supposed to travel with the first team on Sunday, but they could not due to some logistics.

AmaZulu

Lindani Shange – The 21-year centre forward is currently training with AmaZulu's first team and will be hoping to get his chance soon. Goalkeeper Olwethu Mzimela trains with the first team but only gets game time in the Diski Challenge.

Orlando Pirates

Relebohile Ratomo has finally joined the quad of Cassius Spandiel, Ndumiso Ngiba, Syabonga Ndlozi and Sonwabo Khumalo in training the first team. Pirates now have five Diski Challenge players training with seniors.

Royal AM

Coach Sazi Ngubane confirmed that three players, Khulekani Shezi, Bandile Dlamini [who was a man of the match on Saturday], and Philani Sithebe, are training with the first team. The trio are waiting on the wing to be part of the senior team match day squad.

Maritzburg United

Maritzburg might not be counted among the candidates to challenge for the title, but coach Peter Petersen has a couple of players training with the first team. Currently, the Team of Choice has Phiwayinkosi Zuma, Asanda Buthelezi, Andiswa Sithole, Sinamandla Zondi and Khaya Sibiya training under the watchful eye of Fadlu Davids. On Tuesday, Davids hinted that if they impress him at training, they could form part of the team that will face Kaizer Chiefs in the Nedbank Cup last-32 match on Friday night.