Chiefs youngster Vilakazi compared to Premier Soccer League’s greats

Kaizer Chiefs youngster Mfundo Vilakazi is one of the players tipped to hit greater heights in football.

The 19-year-old was part of the Amajita team that conquered the continent in the U20 Africa Cup of Nations before playing in the U20 FIFA World Cup in Chile, where they managed to reach the Round of 16.

Last weekend, the youngster played a vital role in helping the Glamour Boys seal progress to the group stage of the CAF Confederation Cup. It was a statement to the technical team that he is ready to be involved regularly.

Former Amakhosi winger Junior Khanye believes Vilakazi has the potential to reach the heights of Themba Zwane and Thembinkosi Lorch. He, however, is not sure whether he will get all the chances to peak owing to the pressure involved.

Vilakazi can be a star player, but…

“Mfundo is going to be like Lorch and Themba Zwane and will perform and start peaking at the age of 25, in my opinion,” he told iDiski Times.

“When you have natural talent and haven’t been properly developed, you do well against your peers. There is pressure in the U20 and U23 teams, but it’s different at the club level where you need consistency.

“He can become a star player, but that will depend on the coach, if the coach believes in him and trusts him. And the way they are playing him as a winger is demanding, and he struggles with one-on-one situations.

“Taking someone on you have to decide early, and you have to be convincing, and Mfundo is not that person; he wants to pass because he’s technically good.

“I think he will mature when he reaches 24 years. I’m not sure if they will be patient with him, and it will also depend on the coach keeping him and playing him consistently,” Khanye concluded.