Former Mamelodi Sundowns and Moroka Swallows winger Lucas Sebona has backed his homeboy Dimpho "Khalabemgeza" Madalane to be Orlando Pirates's next big star.
In March this year, the young left-back was kicking a football for Middelburg-based Hollywoodbets Regional League club Madubaduba in Mpumalanga.
Three months later, he finds himself on his way back from a pre-season camp in Spain, sharing a dressing room with big stars he recently watched on television lifting the Nedbank Cup.
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Madalane was spotted by the Buccaneers following outstanding performances in the Pirates Cup in March.
"This boy will be on fire once he settles at the club and gets used to his new teammates, at the moment his confidence is still low, but that's natural," Sebona notes.
"But age is still on his side. Against Sevilla, it was his first match for Pirates, so he didn't want to keep the ball on his feet.
"We may not know, maybe it's the instructions from the coach, but he should be allowed to use his strength, which is going forward and whipping in those sweet crosses with his sweet left foot.
"Khalabemgeza has a very special talent, which is very rare in football. What he's got is natural talent, it can't be taught anywhere.
"Once he gets used to his new teammates and regains his confidence, people can expect fireworks. When it comes to talent, he is in the same category as the likes of [Lamine] Yamal from Spain.
"But it's natural not to have confidence in such a stage. Remember, he is starting on a very big stage, initially I thought Pirates were going to start him in their development for him to be familiar with the system. But in his case, he came straight from amateur football to facing Sevilla.
"From him, people can expect a player who delivers quality crosses, a dead ball specialist, and he even has that element of individual brilliance.
"Yesterday he was too cautious in everything he did, he did show some glimpses though, it's just that he is still getting used to the system.
"I believe people will see his full potential in PSL matches, in Spain the stage is big, playing against La Liga and English Championship clubs is never easy.
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"But I did drive him to Pirates recently so he could familiarize himself with the system there, I also showed him my achievements just to encourage him.
"I told him he needed to surpass what Happy Jele and I managed to reach since we are all from the same township of Mhluzi in Middelburg.
"I also made sure I introduced him to Happy Jele so he could look after him there in Johannesburg."