A veteran former Orlando Pirates coach has defended the club's youth policy with the Soweto giants having stumbled a few times in their league title endeavours this season.
Though the league title race has reached its climax, Pirates have not shied away from introducing new talent in their line-up. Relebohile Mofokeng, Mohau Nkota, Siyabonga Ndlozi, and Mbekezeli Mbokazi have all made their mark this season in the club's colours.
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"Every club has a different way of introducing young players," notes Augusto Palacios when asked about the timing.
"Some clubs introduce a young player because there's no budget to buy players, some introduce a young player because they see the potential of the player. And three, others introduce them because they believe in what the youngsters have.
"Pirates have put in a center-back, another boy, Mbekezeli Mbokazi, and he has played already three consistent games. This gives him the confidence and the strength.
"But if a coach puts in a young player today but does not play him in the next game, it kills the player.
"Relebohile Mofokeng, when he made his debut, was allowed to play the next game and more games, and in no time, he was a Bafana Bafana regular," he continues.
The veteran coach says it has been a decade since youth-focused policy was introduced at the Soweto giants.
"Gift Leremi, Joseph Makhanya, Excellent Walaza, Phumudzo Manenzhe, Senzo Meyiwa...Pirates started this youth policy in 1996.
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"At one stage, there were seven of them in the starting line-up. It was the first time in history to see seven development players start in the Soweto Derby and win it.
"It's an achievement because that group of players continued to play for the other coaches who took over after me."