Orlando Pirates teenage sensation Boitumelo Radiopane has the potential to ply his trade in the top leagues of Europe, according to his agent Mike Makaab.
Radiopane, 19, finished the 2021/22 season as the DStv Diski Challenge top scorer and Player of the Season and featured four times for the senior team but there have been calls already from club’s supporters for a more prominent role – such is the talent he’s displayed in the reserve league.
With 24 goals to his name in the past campaign, the talented striker has emerged as one of the brightest prospects in South African football and has subsequently been snapped up by Makaab’s ProSport International ahead of the 2022/23 campaign.
The agency which is the home of some of the countries leading footballers is likely to open up several avenues for the Pirates youth product who has already been tipped for a huge future by assistant coach Mandla Ncikazi.
“It was important for us to have the support of the club and we’re very excited about his future, what’s important is that we all hope he progresses to being one of the top players in the country and hopefully at the right time plies his trade at a top league in Europe,” Makaab said on Gagasi FM about their latest acquisition.
“When you’re managing a young player’s career path it’s very important you look at the final destination and then decided, together with the player, the family and the football club [Orlando Pirates], what are the best steps for him to achieve his ultimate dream of playing at the highest level in Europe.
“That’s absolutely vital when we contribute to making decisions relating to the young man going forward, but we’re privileged to represent such an exciting talent.”
Makaab went on to state that while the DDC is an important platform for youth development in the country, there are real challenges for players to command regular starting berths in the first teams like the Buccaneers but remains hopeful a decision can be made that benefits his development.
“Whatever decision is made, will be made in conjunction with Orlando Pirates and Boitumelo’s family… we have ideas where we believe his future can be… or let me say the first step towards a great future, can happen and should happen immediately but let’s see what happens and transpires over the next few days,” Makaab concluded.
Radiopane was amongst the names selected in the preliminary COSAFA Cup squad which is set to take place next month in Durban.
