SA Teenager creates interest from Manchester United
By Neo Poho
South African U/16 player Emile Witbooi has created interest from English Premier League giants Manchester United after a great performance at the recent U/16 UEFA development tournament in Europe.
Witbooi who is the son of Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Surprise Ralani was part of team South Africa that took part in the development tournament that took place in Poland last month.
Despite team SA losing all their matches during the tournament, Witbooi scored a solitary goal while also providing an important assist in one of the matches.
Coached by the seasoned Zipho Dlangalala who has worked with players like Keagan Dolly, Paseka Mako and Siphelele Mkhulise just to name a few, Witbooi could see himself dawning the red and white colours of United sooner than expected.
Amid Manchester showing interest for Witbooi, Dlangalala said he is not shocked at all as Witbooi is one of the most promising and emerging talents in South Africa.
"I am not surprised at all because the young man was one of the outstanding players in the tournament and also got a special mention from the UEFA Technical assessors.
"So he without a doubt deserves to be asked about from Manchester and I am happy for him, this can be a big breakthrough for the young man," Dlangalala said.
Having lost 2-1 to the Northern Ireland, 5-0 to Poland and 3-2 to Luxembourg, Dlangalala took the tournament as a learning curve for the youngsters and was also pleased with how some of them also rose to the occasion.
"For me it was Emile Witbooi of School of Excellence, Kabelo Sibande who is at Clapham High School and Mamelodi Sundowns, Lazola Maku who is at Ubuntu Cape Town and Neo Bohloko who is at Kaizer Chiefs.
“These four players stood out and there is Junaid Seedat who is also at Ubuntu Cape Town, and I’m talking here about players who are really gifted, that showed class against very strong and physically imposing European players," Dlangalala added.
Deemed to be one of the most skillful and creative player in the South African side, Witbooi is set to be assessed thoroughly by the Red Devils before an official decision can be taken however, Dlangalala is certain the School of Excellence player will head to Old Trafford.
"He’s like most South African kids that are talented, very skilful and creative and he is a kind of player that I hope will nurture his talent and get to be guided properly through his early career and I would wish as a country we need to give him special treatment.
“We need to accept that some players are very special and are different, we need to give those players special treatment because they would give us far more than others and Witbooi is that breed."
The School of Excellence which is known for producing talents like Steven Pienaar, Daine Klate, and Lucky Maselesele recently sold South African U/17 international sensation Siyabonga Mabena to Mamelodi Sundowns and he is expected to lead Amajimbos at the 2023 AFCON U/17 tournament in Algeria later in April 2023.
Amajimbos open their AFCON account against Morocco U/17 on Sunday the 30th of April 2023, kick-off is 20:00 South African time.
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