Former Orlando Pirates Head of Development Augusto Palacios has given his verdict on the performance of the club's new gem Mohau Nkota, who put on a Man of the Match performance against AmaZulu FC last Friday.
Following his brace against AmaZulu FC on Friday, the 16-year-old has now scored two goals from his three league appearances.
Pirates beat Usuthu 2-1 at the Orlando Stadium.
READ: LOSS | 'Castillo is more of a threat than Maart'
Palacios says the exciting youngster needs to understand he will need to compete to keep his place in the team.
"He arrived after I left the club. It's good to see Pirates introducing young blood in the team. The boy scored a fantastic goal. I was there at the stadium on Friday watching him," Palacios tells KickOff.com.
"He is a left-footed player playing on the right, and Relebohile Mofokeng is a left-footed player playing on the left. He is a promising boy, Nkota, and him being afforded [the opportunity of] starting a match is an opportunity that needs continuity.
"I know this boy from Bophelo in Mayfair, where he was schooling. Pirates have two good young players on the wings in him and Mofokeng. But Nkota needs to understand he needs to compete to stay in the team as the club still have a Monnapule Saleng, who is currently injured.
"It's good competition for the young boy, and he must remain confident. O Friday, he could easily have scored four goals. I understand missing opportunities is part of football, but still, great achievement for him," he continued.
Palacios, who has also taken charge of coaching the first team, goes on to dish out advice to Nkota.
"He must remain humble, he must continue working hard. He can soon be in the national team, the U23s, or even Bafana Bafana... you might never know.
"He must show appreciation for the opportunity given to him by the Orlando Pirates technical team by working hard. You can only reach your full potential when you play game to game. Sometimes youngsters perform well in one game, but in the next game, he is not performing at all.
"Like Nkota, in the game against SuperSport United, he didn't perform like he did against AmaZulu.
READ | Mbuyane: They still owe me my R145 000 signing fee
"He must focus on his training and working hard for his family. He must not think about agents who will promise him overseas moves. No, he must focus on settling at Orlando Pirates.
"What he has is a God-given talent that can take him far. Mistakes will always happen in football, but I believe he's got a great future. The only person who can determine his future is him with his consistency.
"He is still 19. He has a great future at Pirates. But it's only consistent performance that makes you a star."
Nkota will hope to be given the nod again in the starting line-up when Jose Riveiro's men face TS Galaxy on Tuesday.