Stars of Africa Academy football director Farouk Khan has warned against the trend of hyping youngsters up before they can establish themselves in the big league, as he reveals where Mohau Nkota of Orlando Pirates needs to improve.
South Africa's top-flight football is blessed with such talents as the Pirates duo of Relebohile Mofokeng and Mohau Nkota, as well as Mfundo Vilakazi and Mduduzi Tshabalala, both of Kaizer Chiefs, to mention but four.
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Khan, who has produced some of the country's best talent over the years having also worked as Head of Development at Amakhosi more than two decades ago, is, however, worried too much fame might distract the new generation.
"I think it's always good to promote youngsters, but I can't say it's because of that that our football is exciting again. It's exciting because a lot of teams have upped their game," notes Khan, in an interview with KickOff.
"It's always good to have youngsters coming through, but it's about if they can sustain that form. You saw Mofokeng last night, he did well, but there were moments. Luckily, the coach, Jose Riveiro, pointed out that he still needs to mature a little bit.
"We need to make sure that the youngsters understand that football is not an event, it's a process, and the process is... consistency is the key.
"My advice to them is, keep your head on your shoulders, don't become big-headed, take it a game at a time," adds the football analyst.
Khan believes South Africa as a whole is failing youngsters by not giving them life skills and not encouraging pupils at school to play sport.
"We don't have that in our black schools. I mean, I know... I had a few naughty boys, the likes of Jabu Pule (now Mahlangu), Junior Khanye, (Thabiso) 'Skappie' Malatsi. I taught them a lot of skills, but it was too late.
"They were at the stage where they were already influenced by other factors. We need to do something for the future of our kids."
He makes an example about Nkota, the latest emerging star to be promoted to Bucs' senior team, who made his league debut in the 2-0 win over SuperSport on Tuesday, before being substituted in the 67th minute.
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"He's got talent, but he needs lots and lots of work to become the player he can potentially be. He still loses possession carelessly, his decision-making at times needs to improve, and this is where the Pirates technical staff will look to improve him.
"The minute you start elevating these boys and say: 'Yeah, you've arrived!' or: 'Nkota is so good! Mofokeng is so good! Ah!' You are killing him because now they follow the media these boys, they see what it say about them, and ultimately they become prima donnas, and they just become flops."