Durban City head coach Gavin Hunt has opened up on the future of midfielder Luphumlo Sifumba, who has been training with the club in recent weeks.
The 20-year-old who was once herald as one of the most promising talents in South African football is looking to get his career on track, with a loan to City agreed in the off-season.
With only 16 professional appearances in Mzansi, since first being promoted to the first team four seasons ago at City, Sifumba has yet to show what made him one of the most talked-about talents in the country.
“Well – he trains with us every day, we’re obviously looking at him closely, besides his numbers but his performance and seeing what he can give us, versatility, trying him to do different things, so he’s close, he’s close [to featuring],” he said.
With City having a positive start to life in the top-flight, having won the Motsepe Foundation Championship, the club, formerly known at Maritzburg United are now looking towards their long-term future and sustainability in the league, with youth development amongst those objectives.
“We have to [look to the DDC for talent], one or two will need to put their hand up, we won’t just give out people [chances] to play, they need to prove they can play in the first team, so it’s the objective of the club going forward,” Hunt added.
“But we just started our DDC team, not like others who had DDC teams for ages now, so it’s important we look closely and work closely – which they do, they train with us, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday – I bring them in.”