A renowned former Kaizer Chiefs striker has offered some friendly advice to club starlet Mfundo Vilakazi and his other young teammates.
Vilakazi graduated from the Chiefs academy and impressed for two seasons in the DStv Diski Challenge side before his promotion to the senior squad.
He made his professional debut when Amakhosi lost to Milford FC in the Nedbank Cup in February earlier this year.
In April, Chiefs handed him a contract extension that will see him stay at the club until June 2028. Last season, Vilakazi made seven appearances in all competitions including in a Soweto derby against Orlando Pirates.
Vilakazi’s promotion comes at a challenging time at Chiefs with massive pressure from fans demanding trophies. The club has endured nine seasons without winning a trophy.
In today's rapidly evolving world, social media has emerged as a breeding ground for often harsh criticism directed at footballers, especially young players.
Collins Mbesuma, the holder of the record for most goals in a single season with his 25-goal haul for Chiefs in 2004/05 season, hasn urged Vilakazi and his young teammates to minimize their attention to public comments on social media.
COLLINS MBESUMA’S ADVICE TO MFUNDO VILAKAZI AND HIS YOUNG TEAMMATES
“For me, what I can say to [Kaizer Chiefs] young players is that the most important thing is don’t focus too much on social media,” Mbesuma told FARPost.
“On social media, everybody is talking, so I would advise a young player on how he’s going to handle that. That’s the most important thing.
“He may have the talent, even the mentor, the coaches, the experienced players but they have to mentor that boy. Wherever he’s out at a mall or in public, people will talk, ‘this one’. How he’s going to take that fame at a young age [is very important].
“They [youngsters] should just stay cool, don’t spend too much time on social media. Social media has killed a lot of players, you can score a beautiful goal, then have one million followers. Now everyone is praising you, and you think you have arrived. Then, after one season, the player just disappears.”
Other young talents in the Chiefs squad include Karabo Molefe (21), Samkelo Zwane (22), Mduduzi Shabalala (20), and Wandile Duba (19).
The young goalkeeper, Molefe, has yet to make a senior debut having been part of the senior team since the tenure of Ernst Middendorp.
While Shabalala was a regular last season with 19 appearances and 2 goals, Zwane and Duba have yet to become regulars but have made a few appearances.
