Orlando Pirates head coach Jose Riveiro's eye for talent has contributed another national team asset, as Thalente Mbatha's agent Mike Makaab reflected on the player's journey from SuperSport United.
Riveiro initially took unknown quantity Monnapule Saleng, who was sent on loan to Moroka Swallows, prior to the 2022/23 season, and thrust him into the spotlight against Mamelodi Sundowns in the 2022 MTN8 semi-final first leg.
The winger has not looked back since.
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Although he could not maintain his standards last season, after he won the PSL Players' Player of the Season award, his quality cannot be questioned.
The Spaniard also introduced little-known teenager Relebohile Mofokeng into the Bucs senior team and his belief that if a player is good enough, he is old enough has now unearthed a gem on the radar of European teams.
The Soweto giants made a surprise move in January after signing Mbatha on loan from SuperSport and the 24-year-old, in just nine months, has already earned a national call-up.
"It's remarkable. I think he has done unbelievably well. To think that he came from SuperSport, where he did not get a lot of game-time," ProSport International CEO Mike Makaab, who facilitated the move, told KickOff.
"But I mean, different style of play, different thought process from different coaches, one has to respect that. At Pirates, he has fitted incredibly well.
"I just think that he's a modern footballer. He's got wonderful physical attributes and he's a sensible young man and I've said to him that he needs to remain humble, he needs to focus on improving all the time.
"[He must] never be satisfied with where he is in his career. So, now he's playing for the national team, he's got to set the world alight if he plays at international level and the next logical move for him would be to Europe.
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"And I've always said this, players have to dream to play at the highest possible level in their lives, because when they do that, the chances of achieving [a] really top-class career are great, and I think Thalente is one of those players that is going to improve the more is expected from him.
"As he goes up a level, I think he's got that sort of character and the ability to improve all the time. I'm excited for him," the experienced agent added.