Orlando Pirates have been hailed for bringing to the fore Relebohile Mofokeng and Mohau Nkota but are the young forwards late in their development?
Pirates head coach Jose Riveiro deserves credit for trusting and introducing Mofokeng and Nkota in the Buccaneers' setup. However, with both players having turned 20 already, have they arrived late onto the scene?
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In South Africa, some 22 to 24-year-olds are still regarded as 'youngsters', a trend which threatens to undermine the growth of football in the country.
With Mofokeng and Nkota only making their debuts at 19 and 20 respectively, they did not come close to youngest debutants records in the PSL, with the likes of Mkhanyiseli Siwahla starting and scoring for Ajax Cape Town at 15 years and Pirates legend Steve Lekoelea also debuting at a tender age of 15 for Moroka Swallows.
However, Riveiro could have found gems at the right age, as looking back at the history of young players thrown in at the deep end at a tender age in the top flight, most of them did not fulfil their potential.
There was a lot expected from Philani Khwela after he debuted for SuperSport United at 16 years of age but he could not blossom into a fruitful career.
Players such Jabulani Ncubeni also made his debut for Maritzburg United at 16 but ultimately he was still too young or under developed for the rigours of top flight football and also his career faded.
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Big hopes also rested on the shoulders of Augustine Mahlonoko after he debuted at 16 years and 11 months for the Buccaneers but he could not progress further at the Soweto giants before he was released to join Baroka in 2020 at age 19.
Given that only Lekoelea and Bradley Carnell, who played his first game in the PSL for Wits University at 16, had remarkable careers after they were tipped for greatness as kids (16 years and under), the likes of Mofokeng and Nkota could be at the ripe age to build solid careers after bursting into the scene as grown ups so to speak.
If it was not for the Spanish tactician, the young duo could have vanished into the oblivion of SA football as some and many exciting young players who never get given such opportunities.