The recently acquired Orlando Pirates prospect has drawn comparisons to FC Barcelona and Spain prodigy Lamine Yamal.
The Buccaneers have bolstered their squad with several new signings in preparation for the upcoming season. The new additions to the team are Selealo Rasebotja, Gilberto, Bayanda Zulu, and Dimpho Madalane.
Most of them took part in the friendly matches that the Sea Robbers played in their pre-season tour in Spain.
Lucas Sebona, a winger who previously played for Mamelodi Sundowns and Moroka Swallows, likened left-footed player Madalane to Yamal.
Sebona believes that with enough game time and increased confidence, Madalane will reach his full potential at Ezimnyama Ngenkani.
He has urged the Pirates coaches to allow him to play more freely and express himself, rather than be restricted by a lot of instructions.
NEW PIRATES LEFT-FOOTER COMPARED TO LAMINE YAMAL
“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 told KickOff.
“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.
“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.”
