News coming through from Mamelodi Sundowns is that the technical team has recommended the promotion of a young defender from their DDC side.
Insiders close to the club and privy to information have indicated that one of the AFCON Under-20 winning defenders is believed to be on the verge of being promoted to the Sundowns senior team.
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The sources added that Thato Sibiya will be with the senior team when the Brazilians return from the FIFA Club World Cup in July and he will apparently join them in the pre-season camp.
"He has trained with the first team before but mainly with the team that stays behind when the other senior players play away. But this time around it's believed that he is set for straight promotion. Coaches from both the DDC and the senior team have been working together on this and they believe it's the right time," the insider told Soccer Laduma.
A second source stated that since most of the Sundowns defenders are in their 30s, they want young defenders in their ranks from next season.
"It's a process that the team are taking. They are working on building a future using their own development players and that's why they are set to promote Thato Sibiya as well. They want to make use of the investment they are putting in their youngsters and the team as a whole. They have a number of veterans who will soon need replacements and these young boys will do that job," the second source told the Siya crew.
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The teenager was part of the Under-20 national team which had won the AFCON in Egypt, beating Morocco 1-0 in the final on Sunday.
This promotion represents a significant step in Sundowns' succession planning, as they prepare for the eventual transition from experienced defenders like Ricardo Nascimento, Grant Kekana, and Mosa Lebusa. For Sibiya, the timing couldn't be better, with his international success providing the perfect springboard into senior football.
As Masandawana prepare for another season of competing on multiple fronts, including the expanded FIFA Club World Cup and domestic competitions, developing depth through internal promotion aligns with their sustainable approach to maintaining dominance. The coming pre-season will provide a crucial platform for the teenager to integrate with the senior squad and potentially establish himself as part of Sundowns' next generation of defensive talent.
