With just under 10 matches played in the DStv Diski Challenge (DDC), Orlando Pirates coach Joseph Makhanya has “one trophy won” already.
Duku-Duku, as the former Pirates player is affectionately known in the football circles, stated this on Saturday after registering a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Golden Arrows.
The mentor, who is in his third season coaching in the DDC, revealed that club captain Mbekezeli Mbokazi is on the verge of gaining promotion to the Pirates' senior team.
The 19-year-old, who hails from Hluhluwe, a small town in northern Zululand renowned for its wealth of wildlife, joined the Pirates DDC team at the beginning of the season and has grown leaps and bound as he is currently captaining the side.
He has also represented the SA Under-20 national team.
He was also among the top performers in the Under-20 Cosafa Cup that was won by South Africa and saw them qualify for next year’s Africa Cup of Nations.
Makhanya credited the DDC league for the youngster’s growth.
“This platform (DDC League) is created for these boys. If you look at where Mbekezeli (Mbokazi) comes from, it was his first season last season but the strides he has made has been nothing short of amazing,” stated Makhanya.
An excited Makhanya also revealed that Mbokozi would be joining the first team.
“Soon there’s an announcement that would be made, where we will no longer see Mbokazi in the DDC.
“You must think back where he is coming from, all the way from Hluhluwe. It was even difficult to talk to him about tactics, so you needed to make sure that you speak to him in his own language, and he became comfortable and once he became comfortable he became a leader.”
“He is now a leader and this is what Pirates is about, giving opportunities to youngsters from all different spheres of the country. The Diski Challenge is about giving chances to the young ones, we have seen how Rele (Relebohile Mofokeng) and Mohau (Mohau Nkota) have progressed, they are all coming from this group.
Added Mkahanya: “Mbekezeli has shown enough of what he wants, maybe next week he will be training with the first team fulltime. It means it is one trophy won, which is something I’m very proud of.”
“Rele is winning matches at the first team, and Nkota is waiting to win matches. Mbekezeli will be there to stop goals for the first team.
“I am happy that when Rele got a chance he took it and after him all the players started believing.”
In their next Diski clash, Pirates will host Chippa United at Isak Steyl Stadium on Saturday morning at 10am.