Stellenbosch FC head coach, Steve Barker praised the club's rising star, Langelihle Phili, highlighting the immense potential the teenager has.
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The story
Stellies are building a healthy reputation as one of South Africa's strongest talent factories — with their latest young baller already catching eyes for his electrifying displays.
Langelihle Phili, who came through the ranks at AmaZulu, joined the Cape Winelands club last season and produced plenty of fireworks in the DStv Diski Challenge before signing his first pro contract in September.
Phili has impressed since getting a promotion to the first team, featuring in eight of Stellenbosch's 14 matches so far this season and managing a goal in the CAF Confed Cup preliminary rounds.
The winger started in Stellies' goalless draw away to Richards Bay on Saturday at the King Zwelithini Stadium and kept the Natal Rich Boyz defence on its toes in his 54-minute blitz.
When asked in the post-match press conference on Phili's potential and his performance against Richards Bay, Barker praised his growth and emphasised the importance of slowly introducing the Durban-born baller to professional football.
"The ceiling is very high for Langelihle. You know, we as a country, are needing those type of players. Players like Langelihle, South Africa has produced those type of players, with the ability to go past people.
"Langelihle is still very young, growing every day, every match and learning. I'm very pleased with Langelihle's performance [against Richards Bay] and contribution. It won't be long until he's starting matches and finishing them," shared Barker.
"With the young players, playing as many matches as we are, it's also about easing him into professional football," he added.
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@lusandaluthuli28 Steve Barker speaks on Stellenbosch FC winger Langelihle Phili's potential and his plans to slowly intergrate him into professional football. #StellenboschFC #betwaypremiership #PSL #bafanabafana @Soccer Laduma ? original sound - Lusanda
Here are some of Phili's standout moments so far this season, which includes a hattrick in the Diski Challenge:
@sibusisompopo2 Langelihle Phili ke star Sunday uzothola igama Elisha shaa shaa??????????
? original sound - SibusisoMpopo230
@lindough_entertainment Langelihle"THE AVIATOR" Phili showed his class as he scored a hat-trick in Stellenbosch's 5-1 win over TS Galaxy???????? #dstvdiskichallenge #asidlali #stellenbosch #lindoughentertainment ? original sound - LINDOUGH Entertainment
@user445860mathera Langelihle phiri first team contract with stelenbusch ???????
? original sound - nxele sthembiso ???
