Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Rulani Mokwena has detailed why he's motivated to give players like Cassius Mailula an opportunity, with another academy star on the verge of breaking into the first team.
Mailula has been a revelation for Sundowns in his debut season with performances that belies his age after scoring nine goals in 14 appearances in all competitions, excluding three goals he scored in the Carling Black Label Cup tournament.
The 21-year old has become the poster boy for the Brazilians academy and Mokwena revealed that Jerome Karelse, who is still with the club's Diski Challenge team, is close to also being given an opportunity after he made the bench in the Tshwane side's recent matches.
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The 36-year old coach says he has a special affinity with youth players and understands the importance of giving them chances in the first team as they resonate more with supporters.
"Jerome has got a bright (future)… like Cassius (Mailula), maybe it's because of my background as a youth coach, having spent a lot of time at Platinum Stars with the likes of Dino Ndlovu for example," Mokwena said in a press conference.
"Being at Mamelodi Sundowns with the youth and even when I was at my former club (Orlando Pirates), we had players like Thabiso Monyane for example coming through.
"I like this feeling and I think Mamelodi Sundowns fans like this feeling, where there's a player they can connect to and connect with because he comes from the academy," he said.
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The cpach went on to make comparisons with former Sundowns forward Percy Tau and Siphelele Mkhulise, who he says are loved by the Brazilians fans because they were produced at the club.
"He has that feeling of the club and what it takes to achieve and that's why they love, the yellow nation love Mkhulise, they love Percy Tau, they'll always have that relationship with him," he carried on.
"And these players have this connection with the supporters because they come from youth, within the structures. When you speak about these players you cannot also turn a blind eye to the hard work that's been done in the academy and development structures by David Notoane, Surprise Moriri, Godfrey Sapula, Shawn Bishop and the likes," he added.
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