Mokwena gives credit to Sundowns Academy Staff

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Rhulani Mokwena has credited the club's academy staff for unearthing youngsters that could be the club's future.

Sundowns, who are almost home and dry with the DStv Premiership title, have been slowly introducing youngsters from Diski Challenge at the senior level.

Recently, the club debuted Diski Challenge leading goalscorer Jerome Karelse, who has 14 goals in his name.

They did not end there; last week, two more players from their reserves, Ntando Nkosi and Siyanda Nyanga, were getting minutes in the first team.

Nkosi started the league match against Stellenbosch FC, while Nyanga was introduced in the second half of the 1-1 draw.

Talking about these youngsters, Mokwena gave credit to the club's youth coaches.

"A lot of good compliments have to go to people like Shawn Bishop, David [Notoane], Sam Mbatha, Surprise Moriri, these are people that work tirelessly to make sure that the players are good enough to be able to play for the first team." said Mokwena after their match against Stellenbosch FC.

"It is no charity to hand out debuts to the players, they have to be good enough."

"The talent of Cassius [Mailula], the talent of Siya [Nyanga], the talent of [Thando] Buthelezi, the talent of Jerome [Karelse] is a reflection of the hard work that is being put in by the Academy staff."

"Ntando [Nkosi] made his debut and he demonstrated that he can get to this level and compete. So a lot of compliments and praise these is going to the Academy staff, No 1, No 2 to the football club, for the investments that they make them to the Academy and then we try our level best to give them opportunities."

"But for sure that is just a reflection of the investment of the football club and the investment of the Academy staff and the people that work tirelessly to make sure that they are good enough to be at this level."

Sundowns have not been among the title candidates in the Diski challenge over the recent years, but they are now slowly reaping the rewards of being patient with their youngsters.