Clever Boy Vilakazi aims for top of the class

Vilakazi was a victim of an ugly tackle by Vincent Kobola in December, 2009, which cut short his season. He spent seven months one the sidelines, before returning late last year.

This season Vilakazi has raised his hand with some stand-out performance for Wits.

Sifiso Myeni, who won Telkom Knockout Midfielder of the Tournament today, said after he was handed his award: "I thinks this award belongs to one player who deserves it more than me, my teammate Sibusiso Vilakazi."

Vilakazi says he is pushing himself more than ever before.

"Before I got injured I never really pushed myself because I never realised and thought much about my potential," Vilakazi says.

"I was fine with just enjoying the chance of being on the field playing. However, the injury forced me to look at myself and what I really wanted out of my career.

"I am no longer just playing ... I want to achieve things and make a difference. Considering the position that I play, I have to score more goals than before because I know that as long as I am scoring, opportunities like moving abroad will open for me in the near the future," says Vilakazi, insisting that this is only the beginning.

"What has been seen of me on the field is only a glimpse. I feel I haven't achieved anything at all and so I still owe the football world a lot. My performance is yet to reach where I want it to be, so it means I have to keep working."

Vilakazi says setting his targets high and working towards them is what is also pushing him to perform as well as he is doing this season.

"This season I have got to believe that I can make anything happen, which is why I am enjoying myself the way I am doing. Plus, I have laced up my performances with goals this season, because to me football is about scoring goals.

"Last season I did play a lot, but then I didn't score goals, which is something that I wasn't happy with. This season, starting at training, I have been more aggressive in showing that I believe I can also score goals."

The performance of Vilakazi, as an offensive midfielder, has led to experienced campaigners Ntokozo Sikhakhane and Mark Haskins having to watch from the sidelines while the 21-year-old takes hold of his opportunity.