Bafana Bafana head coach Gordon Igesund has praised talented South African winger Ayanda Patosi, comparing him to a young Steven Pienaar.
Patosi, who recently returned to action from a long-term knee injury, was called-up by Igesund for the Bafana squad that will face Morocco on Friday evening as the head coach looks to bleed in a new generation of youngsters.
Read: Igesund Names Young Bafana Squad
At just 20-years-old, the Lokeren man has already lit up the Belgian league with his performances last season and is widely considered to be one of the top young talents to come out of Mzansi in recent years.
Igesund certainly believes that there is a lot to come from the attacker, comparing him to Everton’s former Bafana captain, Pienaar, when he was a youngster.
Speaking at a press conference before leaving for Morocco Igesund said, “He’s like a young Pienaar, although he’s still very young and he’s finding his feet. The national team might be a bit early for him right now but he’s got to start somewhere. He’s one of the brightest prospects that I’ve seen, he’s a very talented player.”
The likes of Patosi, Siyanda Xulu and Daylon Claasen are all expected to feature in the game against the Lions of the Atlas as Igesund now looks to build for the Bafana of the future.
By Joe Crann
Follow Joe on Twitter: @YesWeCrann