Former Kaizer Chiefs and Bafana Bafana midfielder Stanton Fredericks has weighed in on Hugo Broos' comments that Cassius Mailula is not ready for Europe.
Broos shocked the football circles when he announced his squad for the Africa Cup of Nations back-to-back qualifiers against Liberia after saying that Mamelodi Sundowns forward Mailula is not ready for Europe, despite including him in his 23-man squad.
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Mailula, 21, is having a breakout season at Sundowns and is already among the favourites to be contenders for Player of the Season and Footballer of the Season awards, after scoring nine goals in the DStv Premiership prior to the international break, just two goals shy of leading goalscorer and teammate Peter Shalulile.
Fredericks, who has plied his trade in Switzerland, Russia and Greece during his playing days, after he made his name at Chiefs, says he understands where Broos is coming from.
'Stiga' says a youngster could experience failure in Europe if he goes too early.
"I heard that and this is not me going against the coach, he has his opinion, he's a coach, I'm not a coach," Fredericks said at a Nedbank Cup event, where he was unveiled as one of the ambassadors.
"But I've played here, I know that sometimes if you go early you might fail and I think that's what the coach is saying," he said.
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However, the former Amakhosi skillful midfielder believes the sooner Mailula goes overseas the better.
"But me seeing Mailula, a team that scouts him will understand that there's potential that must be tapped into and for me the earlier Mailula goes (overseas), the better for him, the better for the country, the better for his teammates," he continued.
"So that's my perception and I'm not necessarily against Hugo Broos. I'm a big fan of Hugo Broos because he has changed the face of Bafana, he's giving youngsters an opportunity.
"He understands that let's not look for results now, let's look for results in the next five years and I think the squad he has selected, I'm very positive for that," he added.
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