TS Galaxy Chairman Tim Sukazi has thrown his weight behind star midfielder Ethan Brooks, labelling him as 'the next big thing' in South African football, following his meteoric rise over the last season.
Brooks was still an amateur when he was spotted by former Galaxy coach Dan Malesela at the age of 17 while training with his former club Panorama FC, who shared a training facility with Galaxy who were campaigning in the GladAfrica Championship at the time.
'Dan Dance' was sold on the pint-sized midfielder, and immediately convinced Sukazi to hand the midfielder a contract during his matric year.
Now, it appears that both Malesela and Sukazi's faith has paid dividends with the 20-year-old taking the DStv Premiership by storm, which has seen him being called up for Bafana Bafana's FIFA World Cup Qualifiers against Zimbabwe and Ghana next month.
"I saw this boy once and I wasted no time. Mind you he was still an amateur. I gave him a contract, I think he was still doing matric. Already I had illustrated enough faith, saying 'boy you can go far, you've got what it takes', and indeed I was proven right. [He is] level-headed, [a] very, very good talent – a special talent," Sukazi tells the Siya crew when quizzed about Brooks.
Asked if the highly-rated midfielder has what it takes to be the next big thing to come out of Mzansi, the TS Galaxy supremo was adamant that Brooks has not realized his full potential as yet.
"I think he is the next big thing, Brooks. I expect him to cement his position in the national team. He's a young kid, turned 20 in March. Like Macbeth (Mahlangu) he's got things you cannot teach to a player. He's got natural attributes, so think he's the next big thing, he's still gonna do wonders.
"He hasn't lived to his potential just as yet in my humble opinion and certainly he will do that in no time. He hasn't gone near what he is capable of and 90% is just God-given talent. He's a special boy, a special talent," Sukazi added.
