Kaizer Chiefs and Amajita defender Sifiso Timba has earned high praise after making his professional debut in the Nedbank Cup with Gomora United.
The 19-year-old earned a starting berth and held his own in the 2-1 loss to Mamelodi Sundowns at Loftus Versfeld on Wednesday evening, just days after securing a loan from Amakhosi for the remainder of the season.
He was part of the U20 South Africa national team that won the Africa Cup of Nations and featured at the U20 FIFA World Cup in Chile where they fell at the round of 16.
Gomora head coach Ashley Makhanya who is well versed in development football, having worked in Amajita, while previously with TS Galaxy and the now defunct Bidvest Wits.
“Timba has been in the youth system since he was young, 13, 14, U15 at Kaizer Chiefs, international experience at U17, U20 – that level is very difficult, you play Cosafa, AFCON, World Cup, that level is very, high, very high,” Makhanya said.
“So if you play international football at junior level, it’s huge, that’s why we knew he would not be overawed, he faced quality players that level, U20, similar to this level, so that is the huge difference, he’s the only one in this group with international experience you see?
“He’s the only one, these other guys don’t have youth international experience. Sundowns have all these Bafana internationals and players from abroad, so their development, comes through at this level and you see the gap… [in quality].
“We need to invest in our youth structures, we want clubs to expose their young players to play in youth tournaments in Egypt, Congo, not just Europe, but all over the world. At club level and if we can improve our junior program because we only play official matches at U17 and U20, we don’t play other matches or travel.
“We travelled a lot when I was with the U20s, that generation – we went to Italy, France, playing against national teams, clubs, in Germany, we played Borussia Dortmund, many teams… with the national team, so that generation was blessed. We developed quicker, tested at higher level.
“The majority of those players, when they came into the PSL, they were not overawed. Some games is below the level they faced, so that’s the difference. So Timba you saw, he knew how to shift, how to read the game, how to use the ball because he’s played for Chiefs youth and also with the national team, so that makes a huge difference.
“But this needs our stakeholders, SAFA to invest, there’s no magic tricks in football, you have to put in the work, but the right work in the right places, players don’t fall from the sky, players are worked on, you need to put in the work and do the right things. Otherwise we keep hoping for miracles while others are working.”
Makhanya will now be turning his attention to the Motsepe Foundation where his side are currently in 12th place five points ahead of 16th placed Black Leopards.
