Prior to last weekend's Carling Black Label Cup match that pitted Carling Knockout champions Stellenbosch FC against a Carling All-Star line-up voted for by fans, a fair number of eyeballs were fixated on Mfundo Vilakazi, the teenage prodigy who shot to prominence in the Kaizer Chiefs DStv Diski Challenge side. Just as well, 'Obrigado', a moniker he answers to in local football, had been one of the players who received the highest number of votes from fans. Some background info: this is an innovation by Carling Black Label to form a team made up of players from all 15 DStv Premiership sides, paired with five players from the DDC, to take on the defending champions. Not only did the silky winger live up to expectations in the 2-1 win over Stellies, where he grabbed a goal just three minutes into the match, but he put up his hand for a berth in the Amakhosi first team, who are under the guidance of Cavin Johnson (albeit on an interim basis ), a man never averse to throwing young players into the deep end, having done so in the past with Kobamelo Kodisang and Gift Links, amongst others. Turning out for the Glamour Boys, though, is a different kettle of fish and many young players have too often seemed ready for the step up, only to rot away in the stands, or the bench, before making an exit without so much as a chance to don the famous jersey. So, in this Siya Special with a twist, following Vilakazi's latest display and so much attention on him, Soccer Laduma speaks to a number of players past and present to share their thoughts on the teen's performance and his prospect for the future.
Obrigado: Those are the things I usually do
Before the Carling Black Label Cup match that pitted champions of the Carling Knockout, Stellenbosch FC, against a Carling All-Star side voted for by the fans, the media had an opportunity to speak to Mfundo Vilakazi, among other star attractions for this one-of-its-kind exhibition encounter, and the confidence he has in his ability shone through. Though he vowed to bide his time before joining the Kaizer Chiefs first team, he indicated that he was ready to step up should the opportunity present itself.
"The coach, Cavin (Johnson), called me to the first team to prepare for the (Carling) Black Label (Cup). I'm ready (for first-team action), but things won't always go the way I plan. Everything has its own time and when the time is right, I will go to the first team. I don't have to force matters," he said.
"The fans must expect that (the skill). They voted for me because they wanted to see more of that, so I will make sure that I make them happy tomorrow (Saturday)." He certainly did deliver on his promise. In addition to scoring a goal, he managed to dazzle the crowd in attendance with his skill and, in a conversation with SABC after the game, shared his thoughts on his performance.
"I'm glad that I was able to make people proud. I am used to doing it in the MDC (MultiChoice, now DStv Diski Challenge) and now I did it on a higher level. The coach (Jose Riveiro) told me not to be afraid to hold onto the ball, to do my thing and to pass the way I would in a DDC match. When I scored, I managed to get into the game and settle. I was so happy, but those are the things I usually do. It's nothing major."
The player also nicknamed 'OB' added, "When we arrived in this camp on Wednesday, we spent time with the guys in our free time where we would ask questions like what it's like at teams like (Orlando) Pirates, and those types of things helped us to build a relationship and get accustomed to one another. As you saw, I was close with Jabulani Mokone, we would speak at night and reminded each other that people are relying on us and that we had to make them proud, and we managed to do that. My hope for 2024 is to make my senior debut."
Veterans Offer Advice
Experience, however, is not bought over the counter and this is a fact of life Vilakazi should be well aware of by now. That no matter how good you are or think you are, there is just so much more to learn when you are at that age. For all the talent that Jabu Pule (now Mahlangu) possessed, for example, the experiences he went through, especially off the field, destroyed him and deprived South Africa of seeing more of him on the pitch. Let's face it, youngsters now face the same challenges as then. Who better, then, to seek advice from than the likes of Itumeleng Khune, Mandla Masango and Brighton Mhlongo, themselves having gone through the journey. Below is some of what they had to say…
Look what happened
Itumeleng Khune – Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeper
"Yes, I did join the club (Kaizer Chiefs) at the age of 12. I was developed for five years and I was promoted at the age of 17 and I also had to wait for my chance. I think Carling Black Label is offering DDC players an opportunity. I think it's very important that they grab this opportunity because the game was live. So, I think that's the only way they can send out a message to say, 'I'm ready and I want to come to the first team.' Mfundo has to work hard. He must not lose hope, his time will come. He just has to be patient with himself and stop reading whatever people are saying. Just keep on working hard on the field and when the time is right, the opportunity will come his way. I think it goes to other youngsters… not only Mfundo. But the players that he is playing with… he was playing with Mduduzi Shabalala and look what happened, he got promoted."
It's a long process
Mandla Masango – Former Kaizer Chiefs winger
"I would really say to him, he should take his opportunities, where the fans have faith in you. They are showing it already. Even though he is not established yet, but he just needs to grab this opportunity and play his heart out and try and do well. He mustn't put himself under pressure, you know, because he has a long career ahead. He just needs to be dedicated and wait for his chance, you know. But this is a platform where he could also show the coach because his future is not decided in this game only. It's a long process. He just needs to be dedicated and focused, know what he wants and work hard to achieve that."
We talk a lot on WhatsApp
Brighton Mhlongo – Former Orlando Pirates goalkeeper
"There's definitely huge potential. I adore him so much. I remember having a chat with Mfundo last year during the Engen Cup at Marks Park and we had a very sincere honest conversation about his ambitions and what it takes to realise his dreams, and I was happy to see him take up some of the advice I shared with him, and he was already executing it. He's a decent boy who is very grounded. You can tell he comes from a very respectful background and he's very dedicated. We talk a lot on WhatsApp and I follow his progress even on Instagram. So, all I can say is that he needs all the protection and the support he can get and all we can do is let the boy cook. He's getting there and hopefully whenever his time comes, he'll rise up and seize the opportunity just like he did over the past weekend."
The most important thing is that…
Having broken into the Orlando Pirates first team as a teenager, Happy Jele knows all too well about the pressure that comes with having to live up to expectations as a kid. A trip from his hometown Middelburg in Mpumalanga to Mayfair, the club's base at the time, more than 1500 kms by road, takes all of 16 hours and 30 minutes, and under such circumstances failure is never an option. It's now history that the cool-as-a-cucumber defender went on to gain legendary status at Ezimnyama Ngenkani before leaving in 2022 after an incredible 16-year journey. The Siya crew spoke to the former Bucs skipper, who was one of the Carling Black Label Cup ambassadors, as he weighed in on Vilakazi's performance against Stellies.
On Vilakazi's performance over 90 minutes
"I think he did very well. But obviously he's still young and there's a lot that needs to be improved (in his game). As a youngster, it's still too early for us to say he's really ready. But on the day he did well, you can see that the potential is there, you know. If he can improve more, then he'll get his chance in the team when the time is right, but it just showed on Saturday that he is capable of playing at that level."
On what he can expect now that the dust has settled
"Ja, there's a lot of people that are gonna embrace him. He must just stay quiet. Say thank you to the guys that are supporting you and want you to play. Keep quiet, be humble, go to work. Just train harder because there's a lot of people now watching you and want you to do the best. So, you just keep quiet and relax and put your head down. And there's a lot of work, a lot of pressure now for you to do well, so just be silent and be humble and work harder. That's the only thing that we can say, you know – just be humble, humble yourself to everyone, respect each and every person, even if he's young or old, just respect and put your foot down and work harder. Now you talk with your feet, not your head, not your mind – it's all about your feet. Just do more extra training and be humble because already you put yourself under pressure."
On the key areas of his game and areas of improvement
"Yes, he has South African kasi football. But as long as you are doing it and you are going forward, it's something that you need to mix with the game model that we play nowadays. So, if you are mixing it with the kasi flavour, then it's good. As long as the team gets results and you are going forward, then it's a good thing, but if the team doesn't go forward, don't do it. Don't do kasi flavour to stand and the ball doesn't move. But if it moves, then it's positive. So, I felt like he was entertaining the crowd as well, but the most important thing is that he was going forward."
His advice to Vilakazi
"For now, he must keep his head down, be humble, try by all means to avoid a lot of noise and let him work with the first team, put in more work and more work and be disciplined. There's a lot of things that's gonna happen, and there's a lot of guys that are gonna claim to be his friends when they are not his friends – they've just seen him playing football. He must stick to the surrounding people that he's been with for all these years. He must work hard because nothing beats hard work."
