Former coach of Thalente Mbatha, Owen Da Gama, has begged the public not to put the Orlando Pirates and Bafana Bafana midfielder under too much pressure as he might crack.
Da Gama, who gave the national team's latest hero his first PSL contract while at Highlands Park, says even at the age of 24, the lanky player is still not a complete player.
"Thalente Mbatha, he is my boy. What happened is he was playing in Durban for a small team, and Mike Makaab suggested that we must take him," Da Gama tells KickOff.
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"They were two - it was him and the right-back at Royal AM, Khulekani Shezi. I assessed them, and I said I saw something in this boy. So, we signed him.
"So, he was part of the team, and slowly but surely, I tried to introduce him to the main team. Then, obviously, Highlands Park was sold.
"SuperSport United wanted him. A decision was made, so he went to SuperSport. So, I'm very proud to be the guy that gave him an opportunity in the PSL.
"So, I'm really glad that I had the opportunity of working with him. Mbatha is a ballerina, he plays ball like a ballerina. He is smooth, he's got deceptive pace, and he can react very quickly to situations.
"I'm not surprised he's scoring those goals, you know. At Orlando Pirates, I think he's at a very good club with very good coaching. Hopefully he will be lucky enough to have the opportunity of going overseas through Pirates. Like Lyle Foster, who came through Pirates," he adds.
Da Gama, though, says Mbatha is not yet 100% ready and that he is still a player in the making.
"But I think Jose Riveiro will work with him there at Pirates. He's going to make him an even better player. At the moment, he is lacking just a little bit of experience. He needs a little bit more experience and a little bit more exposure.
"The more game-time he gets at Bafana, the better. That's why he comes on as a sub because he is not yet the complete product, but there's potential for tremendous product there.
"So, I think even Hugo Broos is building him slowly. Even at Pirates, they are not throwing him in the deep end. They are building him slowly but surely.
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"Riveiro and Broos are going to create a very good product that can go overseas.
"To the public, no pressure. Leave this boy to grow. Allow him to grow and give him time."