Orlando Pirates co-coach Mandla Ncikazi says promising striker Boitumelo “Radioman” Radiopane will get his chance in the first team next season.
The 20-year-old was one of the outstanding players in the Diski Challenge season that recently ended.
He bagged 24 goals in 27 matches to finish as the season’s top goal poacher.
This past Sunday, Radiopane claimed two accolades at the PSL Awards ceremony held on Sunday night.
The Bucs Reserves’ star was nominated for the DStv Diski Challenge Player of the Season award, where he went head-to-head with Kaizer Chiefs’ Mduduzi Shabalala.
He won that accolade and also the Diski Challenge top goalscorer award.
Ncikazi said the player would get his fair share in the first team next season.
“Great potential, quality in him [Radiopane], ability to score, ability to use both feet, ability to use the head. I love those qualities in him but it’s only potential,” Ncikazi said.
“Let’s give him an opportunity in the big league. Then we can start writing the right exam.
“But I am very optimistic that we have a good player in him, we have to give him an opportunity soon.”
Ncikazi concluded: “Next season I am sure he will get a chance. He is going to be one of those great strikers based on the quality I have seen in him.”
During the 2021-22 DStv Premiership season, Radiopane featured for Pirates’ first team off the bench on a few occasions and got a couple of minutes in the senior squad.