Kaizer Chiefs U19 coach David ‘DVD’ Mathebula has picked the five youngsters, in the side’s junior ranks that he believes can claim a stake in the senior team.
Mathebula returned to Naturena earlier this season when he was announced as new U19 coach and Chiefs’ reserves assistant.
Having been with the Chiefs’ youngsters for about four months now, Mathebula has already lifted his first trophy after winning the Engen Champ of Champs and he believes several of them are ready to step up into the first team.
DVD believes Samkelo Zwane, Mdu Shabalala, Wandile Duba, Aiden McCarthy and Puso Dithejane’s have the potential to make it in the first team, looking at their attitude in training and contributions in the junior national teams.
Zwane and Shabalala have also featured in the Soweto derby against Orlando Pirates in the Carling Black Label Cup earlier this season.
“I think Zwane has shown a bit of maturity and Mdu played against Maritzburg and scored and showed a bit of sign,” Mathebula told Velile Mnyandu in this week’s iDiski Times newspaper.
“We’ve seen Aiden McCarthy, we’ve seen Puso Dithejane and they’ve been doing well in the national U20 team and U23. So there are a couple of boys who are doing well but we just have to make sure that their basics are solid so that they can play at the highest level.
“Wandi Duba is naturally talented, a very grounded player you know, a coachable player as well. He works hard during games, during the training sessions, so I believe he is one for the future that one.”
Mathebula’s full interview with Mnyandu is in the current edition of the newspaper available for free at all Shoprite stores across Gauteng.
