It has been revealed to us that a Mamelodi Sundowns youngster, who recently starred at the 2024 Engen Knockout Challenge in Johannesburg, sees himself playing in the Premier League!
PLAYER PROFILE
Name: Gomolemo Kekana
Club: Mamelodi Sundowns
Position: Midfielder
Born: 2006
Player traits: Likes to play forward passes, likes to shield his defence
SCOUT REPORT
University of Johannesburg coach Karabo Mogudi attended the famous local competition this past weekend at the Marks Park Sports Ground. While Sundowns were ultimately defeated by Kaizer Chiefs in the final, youngster Gomolemo Kekana, who was named the Midfielder of the Tournament, still managed to stand out. Here's what Mogudi had to tell us.
Tell us about Kekana...
A very interesting story here. If you remember well… Bathusi Aubaas from TS Galaxy to Sundowns (in 2023). As part of the deal with Aubaas, Sundowns got three youth players from TS Galaxy and Kekana is one of them! He was a shining light in the TS Galaxy team that played in the Engen last year. A very, very good central defensive midfielder. For me, he is one of the future players… in actual fact, when I speak of Aubaas, he's almost like an Aubaas, he's almost like a more dynamic Teboho Mokoena. This young man is something else. Very disciplined in his position, covers the defence well. Very assured in possession, very good passer of the ball and not just any sideways passes. No, no. He looks to play the ball forward a lot and a lot of the time he finds his teammates.
Which professional footballer in South Africa or abroad does he play like?
He thinks he is more of a Kevin De Bruyne player, maybe he likes De Bruyne, but I think he's a Mokoena, a Yaya Toure, but with more positional discipline. Toure used to carry the ball more, but Kekana's someone who sits there like Mokoena and shields his defence. He is very good at defending, he has aerial ability, he can cover distances and help his teammates. He reads the game very well. His passing range is something to behold, you know. Unfortunately, in the final, they met a Kaizer Chiefs who were prepared for them. They were prepared for the balls that would be played in behind.
What are Kekana's ambitions?
This young man, he says he aspires to play in the Premier League. The sky's the limit, as they say there at Sundowns. You know what? With his Engen participation, this is his fourth year. In 2022, maybe he did not participate that much, but in 2021, he lost in the final. In 2023, with TS Galaxy, he lost in the final. In 2024, he lost in the final! I don't know what he has to do to win, but it's his last year in the Engen. A top young man and I see a great future ahead for him.
